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HISTORICAL 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 




X StnjSiazPS Hxh^ 107 OuesrcojO Sti^fiJa. 



JERUSALEM AT THE TIME OF CHRIST. 



AN 



HISTOEICAL 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 



BY 



.AarrfU' 



^)fa«gK5JW 



REV. LYMAN COLBMAK 



ILLUSTRATED BY MAPS, FROM THE LATEST AND MOST AUTHENTIC 

SOURCES, OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES MENTIONED IN 

THE SCRIPTURES. 



-*4- 



PHILADELPHIA. 

PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO, 

1849. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by 

LYMAN COLEMAN, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the 



Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



E. B. MEARS, STEREOTYPER. C. SHERMAN, PRINTER. 






CD 



PEEFACE. 



^^ My mother/'' says Lamartine; ^^ had received from hers, 
on the bed of death, a beautiful copy of the Bible of Royau- 
mont, in which she taught me to read when I was a little 
child. This Bible had engravings on sacred subjects in every 
page ] they depicted Sarah, Tobit and his angel, Joseph and 
Samuel; and, above all, those beautiful patriarchal scenes, in 
which the solemn and primitive nature of the East was blended 
with all the arts of the simple and wonderful lives of the 
fathers of mankind. When I had repeated my lesson well, 
and read with only a fault or two the half page of historical 
matter, my mother uncovered the engraving, and holding the 
book open on her lap, showed and explained it to me as my 
recompense. She was endowed by nature with a mind as 
pious as it was tender, and with the most sensitive and vivid 
imagination; all her thoughts were sentiments, and every sen- 
timent was an image. Her beautiful, noble, and benign coun- 
tenance, reflected in its radiant physiognomy all that glowed 
in her heart, all that was painted in her thoughts; and the sil- 
very, affectionate, solemn, and impassioned tone of her voice, 
added to all that she said, an accent of strength, grace, and 
love, which still sounds in my ear, after six years of absence. 
The sight of these engravings, the explanations, and the poeti- 
cal commentaries of my mother, inspired me, from the most 
tender infancy, with a taste and inclination for Biblical lore. 

^' From the love of the things themselves, to the desire of 

seeing the places where these things had occurred, there was 

'(5) 



VI PREFACE. 

but a step. I burned, therefore; from the age of eight years, 
with the desire of going to visit those mountains on which God 
descended ; those deserts where the angel pointed out to Hagar 
the hidden spring, whence her banished child, dying with 
thirst, might derive refreshment* those rivers which flowed 
from the terrestrial paradise; the spot in the firmament at 
which the angels were seen ascending and descending Jacob's 
ladder. This desire grew with my growth, and strengthened 
with my strength; I was always dreaming of travelling in the 
East; I never ceased arranging in my mind a vast and reli- 
gious epopee, of which these beautiful spots should be the 
principal scene.'' 

This passage is pertinent to our present purpose, as illustra- 
tive of the means employed by this mother to interest her 
noble son in the reading of the Scriptures. As he read, she 
discoursed with serious earnestness upon the events related. 
She pointed out the geographical position of the places where 
they transpired, and by pictorial representations aided his 
youthful fancy to form a vivid conception of the surrounding 
scenery and all the attending circumstances of the narrative 
under consideration. The lands of the Bible became by these 
means the subject of delightful contemplation, and its won- 
ders, events of deep and stirring interest to the imaginative, 
susceptible spirit of this child. As he roamed in fancy over 
the varied scenery of mountain and desert, of hill and valley, 
of lake and river and sacred fountain, each had a charm be- 
yond all that nature gives, arising from the sacred associations 
with which it was connected. The result of this judicious 
training is manifest in the devout spirit of the great orator, 
statesman, and poet of France, and in his profound reverence 
for the Word of God. 

The present work is the result of an endeavour to interest the 
reader in the study of Scripture, by directing his attention to 
the historical incidents therein recorded, in connexion with a 



PREFACE. Vll 

geographical description of the localities mentioned in the pro- 
gress of the history. It is an attempt to put in requisition the 
principle of association, to give interest to the study of the 
Bible, and to em. ploy this great law of our nature in the study 
of Sacred geography, by connecting it with that of Sacred 
history. 

In the universities of Europe, geography is taught chiefly, 
if not entirely, by associating it with history. Hitter, the great 
geographer of the age, pursues this method. His learned and 
voluminous works are historical geographies of the countries 
of which they treat. Rohr^s historic o-geographical account of 
Palestine has had a wider circulation in Germany than any 
kindred work. To associate the geography of a country with 
its history, is indeed the most efficient, if not the only effectual 
method of rendering the study of both mutually entertaining 
and instructive. 

It wonderfully aids the memory to know where any histori- 
cal event occurred, while it quickens, in an equal degree, our 
interest in the narrative. On the other hand, we read with 
indifference what we do not understand. To one who has no 
knowledge -of Biblical history and geography, what is the Bible 
itself but an antiquated record of dim and distant events, about 
which he knows nothing, and cares as little, and full of myste- 
ries alike uninteresting and unintelligible ! But to one of dif- 
ferent qualifications, it may become the most attractive of 
books. The study of Sacred geography is accordingly an 
indispensable requisite for an intelligent and interested perusal 
of the Scriptures. Tell a child of the Mount of God, of the 
desert, the plain, the lake, the city, where each moving inci- 
dent of Scripture narrative occurred, and the reading of the 
Bible, which seemed so dull, becomes attractive and entertain- 
ing. The historical associations that cluster thickly around the 
sacred names of Sinai, Hebron, Bethel, Bethlehem, Nazareth; 



yiii ' PREFACE. 

Gennesaret; Jordan, Jerusalem, and other localities of the Holy 
Land, give to Biblical history a charm that never tires. 

With these views, the author has laboured to bring together, 
in the following manual, the results of modern research in the 
department of Sacred geography, in connexion with the histo- 
rical events associated with each locality. In the progress of 
the work, he has had continually in mind not only those who, 
in Sunday-schools and Bible-classes, may be engaged in the 
study of the Scriptures, but the youth of the land in our 
schools, academies, and colleges, who are expected to study 
the geography of the Bible as an indispensable part of their 
education. At the same time, he has studiously sought to 
make it a convenient assistant to the theological student, the 
instructor, the parent, and the pastor, in his efforts to interest 
others in the reading of the Scriptures. 

Diligent reference has been made to the latest and most 
authentic sources of information, in the works of writers upon 
this subject, both English and German; such as Rosenmuller, 
Winer, Von Raumer, Rohr, Arnold, Weiland, Jahn, Ritter, 
&c., together with the travels of Drs. Olin, Durbin, and Wilson, 
Mr. Stephens, Messrs. Irby and Mangles, Burckhardt, Lamar- 
tine, &c. "^ 

In common with all who have an interest in this subject, the 
author is under peculiar obligations to Dr. Robinson, for his 
invaluable Biblical Researches in Palestine. This has become 
a standard work in Biblical geography, from w^hich all must 
freely draw, either directly or indirectly, who treat of the 
localities which come within the range of his travels and his 
searching investigations. 

In this Historical Geography, the Bihle is all the while sup' 
posed to he the principal text-hook. This is to be constantly 
consulted in the study of Sacred geography, and the present 
manual, to be used only in connexion with the reading of Sacred 
history. Of what avail is a commentary without the text ? So 



PREFACE, IX 

to this work belongs only the subordinate office of assisting the 
reader to a just comprehension of the incidents, historical and 
geographical, which occur in the consecutive reading of the 
Sacred Scriptures. 

Constant reference to maps is indispensable for a thorough 
comprehension and vivid recollection both of Sacred geography 
and Sacred history. It is no less important as the means of 
giving interest to the perusal of the Word of God. Indeed, the 
true rule for the study of the Scriptures is, to let no historical 
incident, no local designation, no^ technical term, no rite or 
ceremony, pass unnoticed. 

The maps have been carefully prepared from the latest 
authorities. Kiepert's Bible Atlas, accompanying Dr. Lisco's 
works, and the maps of Drs. Wilson and Robinson, have been 
the principal reliance of the artist in the execution of his task. 
The index which accompanies these maps, will direct the 
leader to the principal localities in Biblical geography, and con- 
tribute not a litde to the convenience of the learner. Particular 
(Are has been used not to confound the known with the 
unknown. Such confusion, however, is in some degree una- 
voidable, until one has made himself somewhat familiar with 
the subject, and until the geography of the Bible shall be better 
understood. Considerable obscurity overshadows that portion 
of the Mosaic history which precedes the exodus of the Israel- 
ites. These localities are given from the latest German author- 
ities above- mentioned. After passing this period of history, 
the localities are better known. In Maps IV. and V. of Pales- 
tine, such localities as have been clearly identified by modern 
research, were first entered in small capitals, to distinguish 
them from what may be more or less conjectural and indeter- 
minate. The outline was then filled by copying from Kiepert's 
Bible Atlas, Berlin, 1847. 

Let the learner begin by establishing a few landmarks as 
central points from which to establish the relative positions of 



X PREFACE. 

Other places ; such as Jerusalem, the Mediterranean, and the 
Dead Sea, the Jordan and the Sea of Gallilee. Let this outline 
then be extended, and embrace the Tigris, the Euphrates, Asia 
Minor, Egypt and the Desert of Arabia, together with the Nile, 
the Red Sea, Mount Sinai, &c. Let him in this manner estab- 
lish the position and natural features of a few important points, 
and let the outline be filled with the details as they may arise. 
The relative position, the bearing and distances, may be noted 
only in general terms, but care should be taken not to rely too 
much upon these statistical data. To give specific bounda- 
ries, and to attempt to define with accuracy, where so much is 
still indeterminate, only leads to positive error, by confounding 
the true with the false, the certain with the uncertain, a 

With these suggestions and explanations, the book is com- 
mitted to the public, in the hope that it may, in some humble 
measure, assist the young to read with more intelligent interest 
the Sacred Scriptures; and that so reading, they may. through 
grace, learn by blest experience the divine power of this Holy 
Book in enlightening the eyes, rejoicing the heart, and convert- 
ing the soul. 

Philadelphia, April, 1849. 



CONTENTS. 



-♦♦- 



OLD TESTAMENT. 

CHAPTER I. 
Antediluvian Period Page 17 

CHAPTER II. 
From the Deluge to the Call op Abraham . 2 . 37 

CHAPTER III. 

From the Call of Abraham to the Descent into 
Egypt . . . . . . . . . 53 

CHAPTER IV. 
The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt . . 71 

CHAPTER V. 
Settlement in Canaan under Joshua. . . . 127 

CHAPTER VI. 
Judges and Ruth . . . . . . . . 201 

CHAPTER VII. 
Samuel and Saul 210 

CHAPTER VIII. 
David and Solomon .•..!?. , . . 235 

CHAPTER IX. 

Kings of Judah and Israel 265 

(11) 



xu 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER X. 

JUDAH UNTIL THE CAPTIVITY. 



322 



CHAPTER XI. 
The CaptivitYj and Later Prophets . . . . 328 

NEW TESTAMENT. 



CHAPTER I. 



Political Divisions 



CHAPTER II. 
Synopsis of the Harmony . 



345 



352 



CHAPTER III. 

Acts of the Apostles . . .' . . . , 396 
Conclusion • . . 440 



Chronological Table . 
Index of Texts 
Index of the Harmony 
Index of Maps 
Index of Subjects . 



443 
463 
466 
471 
479 



MAPS. 

I. Jerusalem in the Time of Christ. Frontispiece. 
II. The Ancient World^ as known to the Isra- 
elites IN THE Time of Moses . . . 38 

III. The Exodus of the Israelites . . . 71 

IV. Southern part of Palestine in the Time op 

Christ ...*... 344 

V. Northern part of Palestine in the Time of 

Christ 344 

VI. Missionary Tours of the Apostle Paul . 400 



HISTOmCAL GEOGEAPHY. 



-M- 



CHAPTER I. 
ANTEDILUVIAN PERIOD. 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the 
earth. Modern geology dates this original act of crea- 
tion far back in the unknown, unfathomable depths of 
eternity. From the beginning down to the creation of 
man, it supposes the lapse of ages on ages, in which 
the successive stages of creation intervened at distant 
intervals, until the whole was concluded by forming 
man out of the dust of the earth. 

The chaotic mass of which the earth was at first 
composed is supposed to have subsided gradually, and 
to have resolved itself into its original elements. The 
firmament, the waters, and the earth, as they became 
capable of supporting living creature^ after their kind, 
had, previous to man's creation, received from the hand 
of God their respective orders of beings, of fowls, and 
fishes, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

These successive stages and acts of creation are, ac- 

When was the world created ? And in what state ? How did it 
become capable of supporting the different orders of beings ? What 
is said of the successive stages of creation ? 
2 



18 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

cording to the theories of geology, the several days into 
which the work of creation is distributed in the Mosaic 
record. As in all languages a day often expresses an 
indefinite period of time^ so, here it is supposed to 
comprehend any requisite number of years, or of ages. 
Even in this narrative we have an instance of this in- 
determinate use of the word :— ^t These are the genera- 
tions of the heavens and of the earth, when they were 
created, in tM day that the Lord God made the earth 
and the heavens," (Gen. ii: 4.) 

EDEN, PARADISE. 

Adam, at his creation, was placed in a garden in the 
land of Eden. But where was Eden? All the re- 
sources of literature, of philology, and of historical 
research have been put in reqliisition to make out some 
satisfactory answer to this inquiry ; but it remains still 
unanswered. The learned have brought to this investi- 
gation the aid of the most recent discoveries of Eastern 
missionaries and travellers; and, after the widest range 
of inquiry, have only returned with some elaborate 
theory, or fanciful conjecture. 

The geographical position of Eden as defined by 
Moses is involved in great obscurity ; and yet it evidently 
was designed to describe the location of the country 
by landmarks that were familiarly known at the time. 

Four rivers proceeded from it, one of which encom- 
passed the land of Havilah, where was found fine gold 
and precious stones. Two other places bearing this 
name are mentioned in Gen. x: 7 and 29; but each is 

What were the days of creation ? What is said of Eden ? What 
of its geographical position ? What rivers proceeded from it ? What 
places were named Havilah ? 



EDEN, PARADISE. 19 

evidently distinct from this, which is totally unknown. 
Another encompassed the land of Cush ; which, in 
other passages, is the Ethiopia of the Scriptures, lying 
upon either side of the Red Sea, in Upper Egypt and 
Southern Arabia (Gen. x : 7) ; but in this place it 
seems to be the name of some other country, now 
unknown. The third river, Hiddekel, flowed from 
Eden towards Assyria. This was the Tigris. The 
fourth was the Euphrates; this famous river was so 
well known as to need no description. It is there- 
fore merely named by the sacred geographer ; while 
the other rivers, as being less known, are described by 
the countries which bordered on their banks. 

The original plainly says that the rivers of Paradise 
first arose from one source ; and that, after flowing out 
of the garden, it divided itself into four great rivers, 
running in different directions. But was such a thing 
ever known on earth ^ Herder, in view of this diffi- 
culty, says, that all the traditions of the Upper Asiatics 
place this Paradise on the loftiest land of the globe, 
with an original living fountain, and with its rivers 
fertilizing the world. '' Chinese and Thibetians, Hin- 
doos and Persians speak of this primitive mountain of 
the creation, around which lands, seas, and islands lie, 
and from the cloud-capped summit of which the earth 
has received the boon of its rivers." The Mosaic 
account he considers as one of these Asiatic tradi- 
tions. (Gen. ii: 10.)* 

Describe Havilah. What other places of that name are men- 
tioned? Describe Cush. Hiddekel. Euphrates. W^hat traditions 
are mentioned of the original fountain ? Give Herder's theory. 

♦Philosophy of the History of Mankind. Eng. Translation, vol. i. 
p. 508, cited in Bib. Cabinet, No. XI, 51. 



20 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

Whatever be the meaning of the original, Eden 
was confessedly situated upon the Tigris and the 
Euphrates. This fact is so plainly declared, that any 
theory which removes the abode of our first parents 
from these rivers, may be dismissed as unworthy of 
consideration. If, among the conjectures of the learned 
on this subject, we must make a choice, it would de- 
cidedly be in favour of that which supposes the land 
of Eden to comprise a considerable extent of country 
in the mountainous regions of Armenia, which have 
recently been explored by the Nestorian missionaries 
from America. 

The head waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris 
flow from these elevated regions towards the south, and 
have been traced to sources not more than fifteen or 
twenty miles from each other. Those of the Araxes 
flow from near the same region towards the east, or 
north-east, into the Caspian Sea ; while other smaller 
streams run off to the north-west into the Black Sea. 
Of these rivers, two are acknowledged to be the same 
as those which issued from Eden ; two others may have 
borne the ancient names of Pison and Gihon. 

This theory was first propounded by Reland, and has 
since been adopted by Calmet and many others. It 
were easy to oppose objections to this, as well as to 
every other theory on the subject ; and the reader may 
fairly be left to his own conclusions in the choice of 
these difficulties. But whatever may have been the 
location of Eden, the residence of the first human pair 
was in a garden in the eastern part of it. This dwell- 

Describe Armenia. What rivers flow from it? What rivers 
flow from it into the Black Sea ? Into the Caspian Sea ? Into the 
Pei-sian Gulf? What and where was Paradise? 



THE LAND OF NOD. 21 

ing-place of our first parents has received the name of 
Paradise. 

THE LAND OF NOD. 

One other antediluvian country is mentioned in 
Scripture, in connexion with the history of Cain. Of 
this we know nothing, save that it was east of Eden. 
Driven from the presence of the Lord, Cain '^ went and 
dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden." It was, 
as its name indicates, a land oi wanderings oi flighty of 
banishment — some desert region in which the wretched 
fugitive roamed about, an exile and a vagabond. In 
this land, however, he had some settled abode ; where 
he built a city to which he gave the name of Enoch. 
(Gen. iv:8, 18.) 

These brief and imperfect sketches are all the geo- 
graphical notices that remain of the world before the 
flood. The names of a few of the venerable patriarchs 
of the ancient world are given in the Mosaic record ; 
but nothing is said of the countries whicli they in- 
habited, or the cities which they built. Whether the 
w^orks of man were entirely swept away by the flood, 
and the face of the earth wholly changed when the 
fountains of the great deep were broken up, or whether 
the ruins of their cities survived the desolations of the 
flood, they have perished from the face of the earth. 
What countries the antediluvians inhabited, what cities 
they founded, and w^hat monuments of their arts they 
reared — all is alike unknown. 

What is the meaning of the Land of Nod ? Relate the narrative 
of Cain. What city did he build ? What is known of the works 
of the antediluvians ? What is said of the countries inhabited by 
them? What is said of their monuments of art ? 



22 HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

PROGRESS OF THE ANTEDILUVIANS IN CIVILIZATION, LITERA- 
TURE, AND THE ARTS. 

Much has been written respecting the progress of 
the antediluvians in the cultivation of literature, and 
of the useful arts. Some have supposed that man 
began his existence in a state of ignorance and barba- 
rism, but a little above the beasts of the field, and was 
left, by his own unaided reason, to form for himself a 
language, to learn the arts, and to perfect them by the 
process of experience; to organize society, to enact 
laws for self-defence as they were found necessary, and 
gradually to raise himself from a savage to a civilized 
state. This theory supposes the inhabitants of the earth 
before the flood to have been comparatively few, over- 
spreading but a small portion of the earth's surface, 
and to have been but partially> civilized, without learn- 
ing, and only rude proficients even in the common 
mechanic arts. 

Others, with*much greater probability, suppose Adam 
at his creation to have been something more than '« a 
noble savage," or an adult infant. He came forth from 
the hand of the Creator in the full maturity of manhood, 
endowed by the benevolent Being who gave him his 
existence, with whatever of intelligence, of skill in lan- 
guage and in the arts of civilized life, was necessary for 
him to begin an existence worthy of the exalted destiny 
for which he was created. 

It is worthy of special consideration, that there is not 
in history the slightest indication of a savage state 
before the flood. The men of that epoch were profi- 

What evidence that the original state of man was civilized ? 
What was the state of society before the flood ? If barbarous, what 
was their condition and number ? What, if civilized ? 



MOUNT ARARAT. 63 

cients in the arts of civilized life. They were artificers 
in wood, iron, and brass, and skilled, at least to some 
extent, in music and in poetry. They built cities and 
dwelt in them ; degenerate, indeed, and corrupt, in con- 
sequence of their perverted use of all those original 
endowments with which man first awoke to the praises 
of his Maker, and to the healthful exercise of all his 
faculties. 

In accordance with these views of the original state 
of man, the earth is supposed to have been densely 
peopled at the time of the general deluge. Some have 
supposed that the population of the earth at that time 
may have greatly exceeded even the present number 
of the inhabitants of our globe. This conclusion, 
however, is merely conjectural ; but we may safely 
assume that the number must have been immensely 
great of those who were overwhelmed in that catas- 
trophe. 

MOUNT ARARAT. 

The destruction of the world, by the flood, occurred 
,1656 years from the creation of Adam, and 2348 B. C* 
After drifting about for five months on the shoreless 
ocean of the world, the ark lodged upon Ararat ; but it 
was more than six months after this, before the waters 
wholly subsided, and the ground became sufficiently 
dry for the sustenance of the solitary remnants of the 

What arts are specified as having been known to the antediluvians ? 
What v^ras the population of the earth before the flood ? Give the 
date of the deluge. How long did the w^aters continue upon the 
earth ? How long did Noah continue in the ark ? 

* According to the chronology of Mr. Browne, in his Ordo Sascu- 
lorum, which is adopted in the following pages, the Deluge occurred 
2447 before Christ. 



24 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

old world, who survived the deluge. These, after a 
sojourn of an entire year in the ark, went forth again to 
people the earth with their several tribes. 

Ararat, which first reared its head above the waste 
of waters, to arrest and support the ark, is reputed to 
have been some unknown summit in a region of country- 
bearing this name. It is appropriately, not a mountain, 
but a territory ; and is several times mentioned in the 
Scriptures : (Isa. xxxvii : 38 ; 2 Kings xix : 37 ; Jer. 
li : 21. \ In our translation it is sometimes styled Ar- 
menia, and is supposed to have been the country known 
in history by this name. Mount Ararat is by common 
consent assumed to be the summit in question. 

According to this hypothesis, Noah and his sons 
went forth to renew the desolations of the earth, in the 
plains near where Adam may have gone out of Eden, 
in the sweat of his brow to till the earth, and to people 
with a sinful race its solitudes already smitten with the 
curse of God. 

Ararat, lying east of Armenia proper, consists of two 
stupendous summits of unequal heights, one of which 
is 16,000 feet above the level of the sea, and 1500 above 
the highest elevation of Mount Blanc. The majestic 
grandeur of this immense mountain is described by 
Sir Robert Ker Porter, as awfully imposing and sub- 
lime: 

^' It appeared as if the highest mountains of the world 
had been piled together to form this one sublime im- 
mensity of earth, rocks, and snow. The icy peaks 
of its double head rose majestically into the clear and 
cloudless heavens ; the sun blazed bright upon them, 

Where was Mount Ararat ? Describe it. Its height ? What is 
its appearance as sketched by Sir Robert Ker Porter ? 



MOUNT ARARAT. 25 

and the reflection sent forth a dazzling radiance equal 
to other suns. My eye, not able to rest for any time 
upon the blinding glory of its summits, wandered down 
the apparently interminable sides, till I could no longer 
trace their lines in the mists of the horizon, when an 
irrepressible impulse immediately carrying my eye 
upwards again, refixed my gaze upon the awful Ararat." 

To the same effect Morier WTites : — '^ Nothing can be 
more beautiful than its shape, more awful than its 
height. All the surrounding mountains sink into insig- 
nificance when compared to it. It is perfect in all its 
parts ; no hard rugged feature, no unnatural promi- 
nences ; everything is in harmony, and all combines to 
render it one of the sublimest objects in nature." 

From about three miles below its summit, the moun ' 
tain is covered with a mantle of eternal snow and ice. 
It runs along in a rigid crust, broken but by few pro- 
jections of rock, up to the summit, over which it spreads 
one glassy, glittering sheet of ice. Such is the hoary 
head of Ararat. 

This mountain has been ascended by Professor Par- 
rot, whose account of this perilous adventure is so 
interesting that the reader must be gratified with the 
perusal of it. The first and second attempts w^ere 
unsuccessful. The extract below is taken from the 
narrative of his second attempt to scale the lofty heights 
of Ararat. 

<^ At about six o'clock in the evening, when we also 
were much tired, and had almost reached the snowy 
region, we chose our night's lodging in the clefts of 

What is its appearance as sketched by Morier ? When and by 
whom first ascended ? What is said of the summit of Ararat ? How 
many attempts did Professor Parrot make to ascend the mountain ? 



26 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

the rocks. We had attained a height of 11,675 Paris 
feet ; in the sheltered places about us lay some new* 
fallen snow, and the temperature of the air was at the 
freezing point. 

^f At daybreak we pursued our journey towards the 
eastern side of the mountain, and soon reached the 
declivity which runs immediately from the summit ; it 
consists entirely of pointed rocky ridges coming down 
from above, and leaving between them ravines of con- 
siderable depth, in which the icy mantle of the summit 
loses itself, and glaciers of great extent. There were 
several of these rocky ridges and clefts of ice lying 
between us and the side of the mountain which we 
were endeavouring to reach. 

" When we had happily surmounted the first crest and 
the adjoining beautiful glacier, and reached the second 
crest, Schak had no courage to proceed. His benumbed 
limbs had not yet recovered their warmth, and the icy 
region towards which he saw us hastening did not hold 
out much prospect of relief. Mr. Schiemann, however, 
though unaccustomed to these hardships, did not for an 
instant lose his courage or his desire to accompany me, 
but shared with alacrity and perseverance all the diffi- 
culties and dangers we had to encounter. 

^' Leaving Schak behind us, we crossed the second 
glacier, and gained the third rocky ridge. Then, imme- 
diately turning off in an oblique direction, we reached 
the lower edge of the icy crest at a height of 13,180 
Paris feet, and which from this place runs without inter- 
ruption to the summit. 

How far did he ascend ? What difficulties did he encounter ? 
State some of the incidents and perils of the ascent. What is the 
extent of its summit ? 



MOUNT ARARAT. 27 

• « We had now to ascend this declivity covered 
with perpetual sno^. Though the inclination was 
barely 30^, this was a sheer impossibility for two men 
to accomplish in a direct line. We therefore deter- 
mined to advance diagonally towards a long pointed 
ridge w^ich runs far up towards the summit. We 
succeeded in this by making with our ice-poles deep 
holes in the ice of the glacier, which was covered with 
a thin layer of new-fallen snow, too slight to afford the 
requisite firmness to our steps. We thus reached the 
ridge, and advanced direct towards the summit by a 
track where the new snow was rather deeper. 

" Though we might by great exertions have this time 
reached the goal of our wishes, yet the fatigue of the day 
had been considerable, and as it was already three 
o'clock in the afternoon, we were obliged to think of 
providing a lodging for the approaching night. We had 
attained the extreme upper ridge of the rocky crest, an 
elevation of 14,550 Paris feet above the level of the sea 
(the height of the top of Mont Blanc), and yet the summit 
of Ararat lay far above us. 

<^ I do not think that any surmountable obstacle could 
have impeded our further progress, but to spend the 
few remaining hours of daylight in reaching this point 
would have been worse than madness, as we had not 
seen any rock on the summit which could have afforded 
us protection during the night; independently of which 
our stock of provisions was not calculated to last so 
long. 

What expedient did Professor Parrot and his companion adopt to 
assist them in their ascent? To what height did they ascend ? 
The height of what mountain ? What caused them to retrace their 
steps ? 



28 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

" Having made our barometrical observations, we 
turned back, satisfied from the result that the mountain 
on this side was not inaccessible. In descending, 
however, we met with a danger which we had not 
anticipated ; for if in the descent of every mountain 
you tread less safely than in going up, it is still more 
difficult to tread firmly, when you look down upon 
such a surface of ice and snow as that over which we 
had to pass for more than a verst (three-quarters of a 
mile), and where, if we had slipped and fell, there was 
nothing to stop us but the sharp-pointed masses of 
stone in which the region of eternal ice loses itself. 

" The danger here is perhaps rather in the want of habit 
than real difficulties. My young friend, whose courage 
had probably been proof against severer trials, lost his 
presence of mind here — his> foot slipped and he fell ; 
but, as he was about twenty paces behind me, I had 
time to thrust my pole firmly into the ice, to take a sure 
footing in my capital snow-shoes, and, while I held the 
pole in my right hand, to catch him in passing with 
my left. 

" My position was well chosen, but the straps which 
fastened my ice-shoes broke, and,'instead of being able 
to stop my friend, I was carried with him in his fall. 
He was so fortunate as to be stopped by some stones, 
but I rolled on for half a verst, till I reached some 
fragments of lava near the lower glacier. The tube of 
my barometer was dashed to pieces — my chronometer 
burst open, and covered with blood — everything had 
fallen out of my pockets, but I escaped without severe 
injury. As soon as we had. recovered our fright, and 

What difficulty did they meet with in descending ? Give some of 
the incidents of their descent? Did they receive any injury? 



MOUNT ARARAT. 29 

thanked God for our providential escape, we collected 
the most important of our effects, and continued our 
journey." 

The following is his account of the third and suc- 
cessful attempt: — 

<' In the mean time the sky cleared up, the air 
became serene and calm, the mountain too was more 
quiet, the noise occasioned by the falling of the masses 
of ice and snow grew less frequent — in short, every- 
thing seemed to indicate that a favourable turn was 
about to take place in the weather, and I hastened to 
embrace it for a third attempt to ascend the mountain. 

" On the 25th of September, I sent to ask Stepan 
whether he would join us, but he declined, saying that 
he had suffered too much from the former excursion to 
venture again so soon ; he however promised to send 
four stout peasants with three oxen and a driver. Early 
the next morning, four peasants made their appearance 
at the camp to join our expedition, and soon after a 
fifth, who offered himself voluntarily. To them I added 
two of our soldiers. The deacon again accompanied 
us, as well as Mr. Hehn, who wished to explore the 
vegetation at a greater elevation ; but he did not intend 
to proceed beyond the line of snow. 

i^ The experience of the preceding attempt had con- 
vinced me that everything depended on our passing the 
first night as closely as possible to this boundary, in 
order to be able to ascend and return from the summit 
in one day, and to confine our baggage to what was 
absolutely necessary. We therefore took with us only 

When did Professor Parrot make his third attempt to ascend 
Mount Ararat? What encouragements had he to make this attempt? 
Who accompanied him ? 



30 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

three oxen, laden with the clothing, wood, and provi- 
sions. I also took a small cross carved in oak 

«' We chose our route towards the same side as be- 
fore, and, in order to spare ourselves, Abowian and I 
rode on horseback, wherever the rocky nature of the 
soil permitted it, as far as the grassy plain Kip-Ghioll, 
whence we sent the horses back. Here Mr. Hehn 
parted from us. 

" It was scarcely twelve o'clock when we reached 
this point, and, after taking our breakfast, we pro- 
ceeded in a direction rather more oblique than on our 
former attempt. The cattle were, however, unable to 
follow us so quickly. We therefore halted at some 
rocks which it would be impossible for them to pass 
— took each our own share of clothing and wood, and 
sent back the oxen. At half-past five in the evening 
we were not far from the snow-line, and considerably 
higher than the place where we passed the night on 
our previous excursion. 

'' The elevation of this point was 13,036 Paris feet 
above the level of the sea, and the large masses of 
rock determined me to take up our quarters here. A 
fire was soon made and a warm supper prepared. I had 
some onion broth, a dish which I would recommend to 
all mountain travellers in preference to meat broth, as 
being extremely warm and invigorating. This being 
a fast day, poor Abowian was not able to enjoy it. 
The other Armenians, who strictly adhered to their 
rules of fasting, contented themselves with bread and 
the brandy which I distributed among them in a limited 
quantity, as this cordial must be taken with great 

^ '■ -- ■ ■ ■■■ I M --I— .. -, — ...■ M— l..-..— ,, ,^_ _ . — ^.i---» I ■ ■ I 11 11 I ■■■■■■■ I p. ■■ ■ ^ I ■ » II I I ■ ■■■ — •- — ^ 

What route did they take ? Where did they pass the first night? 
At what height ? 



MOUNT ARARAT. 31 

caution, especially where the strength has been pre- 
viously much tried, as it otherwise produces a sense of 
exhaustion and inclination to sleep. 

^' It was a magnificent evening, and, with my eye 
fixed on the clear sky and the lofty summit which 
projected against it, and then again on the dark night 
which was gathering far below and around me, I 
experienced all those delightful sensations of tranquil- 
lity, love, and devotion, that silent reminiscence of the 
past, that subdued glance into the future, which a 
traveller never fails to experience when on lofty eleva- 
tions and under pleasing circumstances. I laid myself 
down under an overhanging rock of lava, the tempera- 
ture of the air at 4J^ (about 40^ of Fahrenheit), which 
was tolerably warm, considering our great height. 

^' At day-break we rose, and began our journey at 
half-past six. We crossed the last broken declivities 
in half an hour, and entered the boundary of eternal 
snow nearly at the same place as in our preceding 
ascent. In consequence of the increased warmth of 
the weather, the new-fallen snow, which had facilitated 
our progress on our previous ascent, had melted away, 
and again frozen, so that in spite of the still incon- 
siderable slope, we were compelled to cut steps in the 
ice. This very much embarrassed our advance, and 
added greatly to our fatigue. 

" One of the peasants had remained behind in our 
resting-place, as he felt unwell; two others became 
exhausted in ascending the side of the glacier. They 

What does Professor Parrot say of the temperature at that eleva- 
tion ? With what degree of Fahrenheit does this compare ? What 
difficulties did they encounter in their ascent of the glaciers ? How 
did they surmount them ? 



32 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

at first lay down, but soon retreated to our quarters. 
Without being disheartened by these difficulties, we 
proceeded, and soon reached the great cleft which 
marks the upper edge of the declivity of the large 
glacier, and at ten o'clock we arrived at the great plain 
of snow which marks the first break on the icy head of 
Ararat. 

^' At the distance of a mile, we saw the cross which 
we had reared on the 19th of September, but it ap- 
peared to me so extremely small, probably on account 
of its black colour, that I almost doubted whether I 
should be able to find it again with an ordinary tele- 
scope from the plain of the Araxes. In the direction 
towards the summit, a shorter but at the same time a 
steeper declivity than the one we had passed lay before 
us ; and between this and the extreme summit there 
appeared to be only one small hill. 

" After a short repose we passed the first precipice, 
which was the steepest of all, by hewing out steps in 
the rock, and after this the next elevation. But here, 
instead of seeing the ultimate goal of all our difficulties, 
immediately before us appeared a series of hills, which 
even concealed the summit from our sight. This rather 
abated our courage, which had neyer yielded for a mo- 
ment so long as we had all our difficulties in view; and 
our strength, exhausted by the labour of hewing the 
rock, seemed scarcely commensurate with the attain- 
ment of the now invisible object of our wishes. 

" But a review of what had been already accom- 
plished and of that which might still remain to be done, 

What memorial did they find of Professor Parrot's former ascent ? 
How far is a verst ? What further discouragements did they meet 
with ? How were they overcome ? 



MOUNT ARARAT. 33 

the proximity of the series of projecting elevations, and 
a glance at my brave companions, banished my fears, 
and we boldly advanced. We crossed two more hills, 
and the cold air of the summit blew towards us. I 
stepped from behind one of the glaciers, and the ex- 
treme cone of Ararat lay distinctly before my enrap- 
tured eyes. But one more effort was necessary. Only 
one other icy plain was to be ascended, and at a quarter 
past three, on the 27th of September, 0. S., (October 9th, 
N. S.) 1829, we stood on the summit of Mount Ararat!" 
Professor Parrot, having thus happily accomplished 
the object of his perilous enterprise, spread his cloak 
on the ice, and sat down to contemplate the boundless 
prospect around him. He was on a slightly convex, 
almost circular platform, about two hundred Paris feet 
in diameter, which at the extremity declines pretty 
steeply on all sides, particularly towards the south-east 
and north-east ; it was the silver crest of Ararat, com- 
posed of eternal ice, unbroken by a rock or a stone. 
Towards the east the summit declined more gently 
than in any other direction, and was connected by 
a hollow, likewise covered with perpetual ice, with 
another rather lower summit, which by Mr. Federow's 
trigonometrical measurement was found to be a hundred 
and eighty-seven toises distant from the principal sum- 
mit. On account of the immense distances nothing 
could be seen distinctly. The w^hole valley of the 
Araxes was covered with a gray mist, through which 
Erivan and Sardarabad appeared as small dark spots. 

When was the summit of Mount Ararat first trodden by the foot 

of man ? What is the extent and form of the summit ? How was 

it covered ? What does Professor Parrot say of the obscurity of the 

prospect, and the causes of it ? 
3 



34 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Mr. Parrot, having allowed himself time to enjoy this 
prospect, proceeded to observe his barometer, which he 
placed precisely in the middle of the summit. The 
mercury was no higher than 15 inches | of a line, 
Paris measure, the temperature being 26^ below the 
freezing-point of Fahrenheit's thermometer. By com- 
paring this observation with that which Mr. Federow 
made at the same time at the convent of St. James, the 
elevation of the summit appears to be 10,272 Paris feet 
above the convent, and adding to that the height of the 
latter, the top of Ararat is 16,254 Paris feet, or nearly 
five versts, above the level of the sea. 

While the professor was engaged in his observa- 
tions, the deacon planted the cross, not precisely on 
the summit, where it could not have been seen from the 
plain, as it was only five feet high, but on the north- 
east edge, about thirty feet lower than the centre of 
the summit. 

The professor and his five companions, viz., the 
deacon, two Russian soldiers, and two Armenian pea- 
sants, having remained three-quarters of an hour on the 
summit, commenced their descent, which was very 
fatiguing ; but they hastened^ as the sun was going 
down, and before they reached the place where the 
great cross was erected, it had already sunk below the 
horizon. 

«^ It was a glorious sight to behold the dark shadows 
which the mountains in the west cast upon the plain, and 
then the profound darkness which covered all the val- 

What is the extreme height of Ararat ? What memorial did the 
travellers leave of their adventure ? How long did they remain on 
the summit ? What is said of the approach of night at this great 
elevation? -. 



MOUNT ARARAT. 35 

leys, and gradually rose higher and higher on the sides 
of Ararat, whose icy summit was still illuminated by 
the beams of the setting sun. But the shadow^s soon 
passed over that also, and w^ould have covered our path 
with a gloom that would have rendered our descent 
dangerous, had not the sacred lamp of night, oppor- 
tunely rising above the eastern horizon, cheered us 
with its welcome beams." 

Having passed the night on the same spot as on their 
ascent, where they found their companions, they arri- 
ved the next day at noon at the convent of St. James, 
and on the following day, Sunday, the 28th of Septem- 
ber, 0. S., they offered their grateful thanksgiving to 
Heaven for the success of their arduous enterprise, per- 
haps not far from the spot where '' Noah built an altar 
to the Lord." 

Doubts w^ere soon raised of his having really reached 
the summit. Many orthodox Armenians had expressed 
their doubt even before he left the country, and it being 
afterwards publicly asserted by an eminent scientific 
man that it w^as impossible, the professor found it ex- 
pedient to request that all persons in that country who 
had taken part in the expedition might be examined on 
oath, and he has inserted their depositions at full length 
confirming his statements. 

A Mr. Antonomoff, a young man holding an office in 
Armenia, ascended Mount Ararat, in the middle of 
August, 1834, partly to satisfy his own curiosity, and 
partly out of regard to the reputation of Parrot, in refe- 

Give some particulars of their descent ? What doubts were en- 
tertained with regard to this adventure ? Has Ararat since been as- 
cended ? When and by whom ? 



36 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

rence to whom it is still obstinately denied that he ever 
reached the summit. 

Mr. Antonomoff found that the large cross set up by 
Parrot was nearly covered with snow ; the smaller cross 
planted on the summit was not to be found, and was 
probably buried in the snow. One of his guides, who 
had accompanied Parrot, showed him the spot where it 
had been set up. On descending, he was called to 
meet with the same obstinate and foolish incredulity. 

TRADITIONS OF THE FLOOD. 

Every child has heard of Deucalion's flood, of which 
he may find an account in every classical dictionary. 
It represents Deucalion to have built an ark, in which 
he caused his w^ife and children to embark; and then 
following these, swine, horses,' savage beasts, serpents, 
and living creatures of every kind entered into the ark 
with them. 

There is a Chaldee tradition of the flood which is 
more ancient and more in accordance with the histori- 
cal record. Sisuthros, the tenth king of the Chaldees, 
is represented as building an ark by divine command, 
because the human race were to be destroyed by a 
flood. In this he embarks with his wife and children 
and friends, and receives the beasts of every kind. 
After some time he sends forth some birds, which return 
again, finding no resting-place; again a second time 
they return ; but the third time, on being sent forth, 
they are seen no more. Sisuthros then opens the ark. 

What evidence did M. Antonomoff find of the adventure of Pro- 
fessor Parrot ? What doubts were raised respecting his ascent ? 

What traditions of the Deluge are mentioned ? Deucalion's flood ? 
Points of resemblance ? Chaldee tradition ? 



DESCENDANTS OF NOAH. 37 

and finds it resting on a mountain. He then descends 
with those that were in the ark, and worshipped the 
earth, built an altar to the gods, and then disappeared 
and was seen no more. 

Similar traditions of the flood have been traced among 
all the nations of the earth — Egyptians, Chaldeans, 
Greeks, Romans, Goths, Chinese, Hindoos, Mexicans, 
Peruvians, and even the islanders of the Pacific. 

And there is an ancient coin from a Phrygian city, 
with the image of an ark floating upon the waters, a 
dove resting on it, and inscribed with the name Noe. 

These traditions are of interest, as showing that the 
indications of that great catastrophe are spread wide as 
was that waste of waters that wrapped the earth in the 
general deluge. 



CHAPTER 11. 

FROM THE DELUGE TO THE CALL OF ABRAHAM. 
A. M. 1656— 2084. 2446— 2019 B.C. 

Peleg was born one hundred years after the flood, 
and lived two hundred and thirty-nine years, in which 
time the earth was divided ^1 Chron. i: 19); so that 
the dispersion of the nations may have occurred in the 
course of the second or third century from the deluge. 
Many suppose that this division was earlier and more 
general than that at the confusion of tongues in building 

What Phrygian coin is mentioned ? Universality of tradition ? 
Importance of these traditions ? 

Birth of Peleg ? Dispersion of the nations ? When ? National 
chart, why given ? 



38 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



the tower of Babel, and was the natural result of the 
increase of the people, and their roving disposition. 
The following national chart will best illustrate the 
dispersion of the several families, from which it will 
appear that Moses has given an imperfect genealogy, 
tracing through several generations the descendants of 
some ; and naming but a single ancestor of others, 
agreeably to his great design of exhibiting the lineage 
of our JiOrd and Saviour. 





A. SHEM. 






I. Elam. II. Ashur. I 

> 


II. Arphaxad. IV. 
1. Salah. 


Lud. 


V. Aram. 




1. Uz. 




2. Eber. 




2. Hul. 




3. Peleg. , 




3. Gether. 




4. Joktan. 




4. Mash. 




" y ' 








1. Almodad. 








2. Sheleph. 








3. Hazarrnaveth. 








' 4. Jerah. 








5. Hadoram. 






Descendants from 
Joktan. 


6. Uzal. 

7. Diklah. 

8. Obal. 

9. Abimael. 

10. Sheba. 

11. Ophir. 

12. Havilah. 
^13. Jobab. 







How many sons had Shem ? Name them. How many sons had 
Arphaxad ? Name them. How many sons had Aram ? Give their 
names. How many sons had Joktan ? Name the descendants of 
Joktan. 




TSmclaxr sixths 1C3- C?Le£VJz;t S-t^Z'hUa^ 



GENEALOGICAL CHART. 



39 



I. Cush. 

1. Seba. 

2. Havilah. 

3. Sabtah. 

4. Sabtecha. 

5. Raamah. 



B. HAM. 
11. Mizraim. III. Phut. 



IV. Canaan. 



-V — 



1. Sidon. 

2. Heth. 

3. The Jebusite. 

4. The Amorite. 

5. The Girgasite. 

6. The Hivite. 

7. The Arkite. 

8. The Sinite. 

9. The Arvadite. 

10. The Zemarite. 

11. The Hamathite. 



C. JAPHETH. 

I.Gomer. II. Magog. III.Madai. IV.Javan. V. Tubal. VI. Meshech. VII.Tiras. 



Sheba. 
Dedan. 



1. Ludim. 

2. Anamim. 

3. Lehabim. 

4. Naphtuhira, 

5. Pathmsim. 

6. Casluhirn. 

7. Caphtorim. 



1. Ashkenaz. 

2. Riphath. 

3. Togarmah. 



1. Elishah. 

2. Tarshish. 

3. Kittim. . 

4. Dodanim. 



This genealogical chart of the descendants of the 
three sons of Noah, Shem-, Ham, and Japheth, is drawn 
from the tenth chapter of Genesis. The names which 
here occur designate, however, not merely the posterity 
of Noah, but more frequently the cities and countries 
where his descendants settled. The enumeration in 
Genesis begins with Japheth, w^hose descendants 
peopled Europe, and the northern part of Asia. 

The geography of this chart is very obscure, and 
authorities are greatly divided respecting the position 
of many of these tribes. 

Name the sons of Ham. Give the names of their descendants ? 
How many sons had Japheth? What were the names of their de- 
scendants ? Do these names always designate persons ? 



40 HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



DESCENDANTS OF JAPHETH. 



I. GoMEK. Cimmerians, around the north coast of 
the Black Sea. From thence they spread west over 
Europe. Others again migrated to the east, over the 
Caucasian Mountains, and the western and northern 
parts of Asia. 

1. Ashkenaz. On the eastern coast of the Black Sea, 
or farther east, towards x\rmenia, whence they may have 
peopled Europe. The modern Jews understand by 
this name Saxony, or all of Germany, whence, accord- 
ing to the prophet, they were to proceed to execute 
Divine judgment upon Babylon and Chaldea, in con- 
nexion with Ararat and Minni ; which implies that 
they were near Armenia. 

2. Riphath; supposed to be the Carpathian Mountains 
in Europe, sometimes called the Riphean Mountains. 

3. Togarmah ; a province of Armenia. According 
to the tradition of the Armenians and Georgians, Thar- 
gamoss, from whom they descended, was the third 
from Noah, and lived six hundred years. The Arme- 
nians also call themselves '^ The house of Thorgom.'' 
The prophet Ezekiel uses the same expression (Ezek. 
xxxviii: 6; xxvii : 14.) 

Europe, the Caucasus, and all Northern Asia, are said 
to have been comprehended in the Isles of the Gentiles. 
(Gen. x: 5.) By them, the Jews, according to Sir I. 
Newton, understood the places to which they sailed by 
sea, particularly all Europe. Others understood by this 
phrase, the northern coast of the Mediterranean. 

II. Magog. Gog and Magog. The northern parts 



Give the lineage of Gomer. Of Ashkenaz. Of Riphath, Of 
Togarmah. Isles of the Gentiles, what ? 



DESCENDANTS OF JAPHETH. 41 

of Asia ; the Scythians generally. In Ezekiel (chap- 
ters xxxviii ; xxxix.), Magog is a country, and Gog is 
its ruler, confederate with the rulers of Meshech and 
Tubal. In Revelation (xx : 8), Gog and Magog are 
distant barbarous nations. 

III. Madai. The progenitor of the ancient kingdom 
of the Medes, which was situated around the Caspian 
Sea, on the south and west, between the 35th and 40th 
degrees of north latitude, and comprehended a larger 
extent of country than that of Spain. 

Much of it is a mountainous country, with very fruit- 
ful valleys ; and, with the exception of the flat marshy 
plains on the shores of the Caspian, the atmosphere is 
celebrated for its purity and salubrity. 

From May to September the sky is not obscured by 
a single cloud ; during which time the stars are so 
brilliant, as to emit a light sufficient for many ordinary 
purposes. From November to March it is very cold. 
Much snow falls, which, when the wind blows, is whirled 
in clouds like the sands of the desert, filling up every 
pathway and valley. For the traveller to be caught in a 
snow-storm is almost certain destruction. This de- 
scription is applicable particularly to Southern Media, 
Northern Persia. 

Ecbatana, Lat. 34^ N., Long. 41° E., 480 miles 
from Persepolis, and 700 from Tabreez, supposed to be 
the modern Hamadam, w^as the capital of this kingdom. 
The Ten Tribes of Israel were transplanted to this 
country in the Assyrian captivity (2 Kings xvii : 6 ; 
1 Chron. v: 26), in the reign of Hosea, B. C. 721. 

Descendants of Magog ? Lineage of Gog ? Situation and extent 
of Media ? Climate ? Atmosphere ? Snow-storms ? Ecbatana ? 
Captivity of Ten Tribes ? 



42 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

From the same source came also their deliverance 
from the Babylonish captivity by the hands of Cyrus, 
B. C. 536. (Ezra i : 1 ; v : 13 ; vi : 3 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi : 
22 seq. ; compare Dan. i: 21.) 

IV. Javan. The lonians or Greeks. Their descend- 
ants were, 

1. Elishah^ Elis^ Hellas; the Greeks, strictly so called. 
The isles of Elishah are represented by Ezekiel as dis- 
tinguished for the manufacture of purple. 

2. Tarshish, The scriptural notices of this country 
are twofold. Some passages speak of it only in gene- 
ral terms, in connexion with distant northern and west- 
ern regions and islands. (Ps. Ixxii: 10; Jer. Ixvi: 19.) 
Others describe the articles of merchandise which are 
exchanged with Tarshish, and its productions, gold, 
silver, iron, tin, lead, &c. (Ez. xxxviii: 13; Jer. x: 9.) 

From such passages the opinions of the learned have 
been greatly divided respecting the country of Tarshish ; 
but the prevailing opinion is, that we are to refer this 
celebrated country to the coasts of Spain. This coun- 
try is known to have yielded many of the metals and 
other articles of merchandise which came from Tar- 
shish. If not produced here, they may have been 
brought from other countries ; and this may have been 
the mart for such articles of commerce with Phoenicia 
and the eastern provinces of the Mediterranean. 

The ships of Tarshish (Isa. ii : 16 ; xxiii : 1, &c.) are 
supposed to be used in a generic sense of a particular 
class of vessels, like our terms merchant-ship^ man-of- 
war ^ &c. 

Lineage of Javan ? Of Elishah ? Scriptural notices of Tarshish ? 
Its productions? Supposed to be what country? Ships of Tar- 
shish, what ? 



DESCENDANTS OF HAM. 43 

3. Kittim, This people were situated upon the 
coast and isles of the Mediterranean. (Isa. xxiii: 1; 
Jer. ii : 10 ; Ez. xxvii : 6 ; Num. xxiv : 24 ; Dan. xi : 30.) 
In Maccabees, x^lexander the Great is said to come 
from Kittim. Josephus understands it to be the name 
of Cyprus. These various opinions are best harmo- 
nized by supposing Kittim to designate the Grecian 
Isles and Greece, including Macedonia. 

4. Dodanim, The Dodonsei in Epirus, perhaps in- 
cluding the lonians. In some texts the reading is i?o- 
daniniy seeming to designate the inhabitants of Rhodes. 

DESCENDANTS OF HAM. 

I. CusH. South-western Arabia, the modern province 
of Jemen ; in a more extended sense, Ethiopia, including 
Southern Arabia and Ethiopia in Africa south of Egypt. 

1. JYimrod. The founder of Shinar, i,e. Babylon 
and Mesopotamia ; where he built the town of Babel 
and the cities Erech (supposed to be Edessa, in the 
northern part of Mesopotamia) and Calmeh. 

2. Seba. The Sabians. According to Josephus, a 
people in Ethiopia, in Nubia, whose principal city was 
called Meror, by Cambyses, after his sister. It was situ- 
ated at the distance of some 1200 miles above Alexan- 
dria, on an island in the Nile, and was a place of much 
trade by caravans. (Is. xlv: 14; xliii: 3; Ps. Ixxii: 10). 

3. Havilah. This is quite distinct from the Havilah 
of Genesis ii : 11 ; and was probably on the western 
side of the Red Sea. 

4. Sahtah, Supposed to be situated in Arabia, on 
the Red Sea, probably in Ethiopia or Gush. 

The Kittim ? The Dodanim ? Cush, what country ? Settlement 
of Nimrod ? Of Seba ? Havilah ? Of Sabtah ? 



44 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

5. Raamahy Regma, On the coast of the Persian 
Gulf. 

Sheba and Dedan were descendants or colonies 
from Raamah. Sheba, whose queen came to learn of 
the wisdom of Solomon, was on the Arabian coast of 
the Red Sea. To the Jews in Palestine, it was in the 
uttermost parts of the earth. (Matt, xii : 42.) 

Dedan was a place of merchandise. (Ez. xxvii : 15, 
xxxviii: 13; Isa. xxi: 13.) It was in the region of 
Edom, Idumea. (Jer. xlix: 8;xxv:23; Ez. xxv: 13.) 
The inhabitants are said to have descended from Abra- 
ham by Keturah, (Gen. xxv : 3.) From these notices 
some suppose that two or three different people are 
intended, but Winer contends that all designate one 
people in the northern part of Arabia and neighbour- 
hood of Idumea. 

6. Sabtecha. The inhabitants of Ethiopia, on the 
west coast of the Red Sea. 

II. MiZRAiM. The Egyptians: literally the Two 
Egypts. Their descendants were, 

1 . Ludim. "i Supposed to have been African tribes 

2. Ananim. \ westof Egypt, Libyans; but their coun- 

3. Lihabim, ) try is not known. The Lubim were a 
part of the invading army of Shishakfrom Egypt, against 
Rehoboam ; and again of Zerah against Asa, king of 
Judah. They were still a powerful tribe in the days of 
Nahum and of Daniel. (2 Chron. xii : 3 ; xvi : 8 ; xiv: 9. 
Nahum iii : 9 ; Dan. xi : 43.) Libyans from the neigh- 
bourhood of Cyrene were also at Jerusalem, and subjects 
of the miraculous gift of the spirit on the day of Pente- 
cost. (Acts ii: 10.) 

Of Raamah ? Whence came the Queen of Sheba ? Where was 
Dedan situated ? Sabtecha, where ? Descendants of Mizraim ? 
The country of the Lubim ? 



DESCENDANTS OF HAM, 45 

4. JVaphtuhim. A province near the coast of the 
Mediterranean, west of the Nile. 

5. Pathrusim. Pathros, in the south of Egypt, and 
the frequent subject of prophetic denunciation. (Ezekiel 
xxix: 14; xxx: 14; Jer. xi: 11.) 

6. Casluhim. Unknown, but supposed to have been 
a colony from Egypt, who settled early in Colchis. 
From thence descended the Philistines and the inhabit- 
ants of Crete. Herodotus asserts that the Colchians 
were a colony from Egypt. 

7. Caphtorim. Supposed to have inhabited Cyprus. 

III. Phut. The Mauritanians, comprised in the 
western part of the Barbary States. Their soldiers were 
in the ships of Tyre, (Ez. xxvii: 10.) And in the 
armies of Gog. (Jer. xlvi: 9.) And of the Egyptians. 
(Ez. xxxviii : 5.) Often threatened by the prophets. 
(Ez. xxx : 5 ; xxxviii : 5 ; Nahum iii : 9.) According 
to Ritter the interior of ilfrica, from which hordes of 
people have come at different times. 

IV. Canaan. The inhabitants of the land of the 
same name, lying between the Mediterranean Sea on 
the west, and the Jordan and the Dead Sea on the east ; 
and extending from Sidon to the parallel of the south 
end of the Dead Sea. 

The descendants were : 1. The Sidonians, 2. The 
Hittites, 3. The Jebusites, 4. The Amorites^ Emo- 
rites, 5. The Girgasites, 6. The Hivites, 7. The 
Arkites, 8. The Sinites, 9. The Arvadites, 10. 
The Zemarites. 11. The Hamathites. 

Give the country of the Naphtuhim ? The Pathrusim ? The Cas- 
luhim ? From whom descended the Philistines ? Give the country 
of the Caphtorim ? Descendants of Phut ? What is said of their 
soldiers ? Give the country and descendants of Canaan ? 



46 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHYc 

DESCENDANTS OF SHEM. 

I. Elam. a province of Persia, east of Babylonia, 
and between the Persian Gulf and Media. It represents 
the origin of the Persians. (Daniel viii : 2 ; Ezra iv : 9.) 

II. AsHUR. The Assyrians, by whom the cities of 
Nineveh, Rechoboth, Chalnach, and Resen, were 
founded. 

III. Arphaxad, the first-born after the flood. North- 
ern part of Assyria, the land of the Kurds and the 
Nestorians. From them sprang: 1. Salah. 2. EheVj 
the progenitor of Abraham and of the Hebrews. 3. 
Peleg, 4. Jokfan, 

The descendants of Joktan were: a, Almodad ; b, 
Sheleph ; c, Hazarmaveth ; d, Jerah ; e, Hadoram ; f, 
TJzal ; g, Diklah ; h, Obal ; i, Ahimael ; j, Sheba ; k, 
Ophir ; 1, Havilah ; m, Johab, 

These all are supposed to be Arabian tribes, some of 
whom lived in Southern Arabia ; but the most of them 
are wholly unknown. Notwithstanding all the researches 
of the learned after the famous mineral regions from 
which the gold of Ophir was brought, we must content 
ourselves with our ow^n conjectures, or an election 
among the theories which have been advanced respect- 
ing the locality of this unknown land. Was it in Mada- 
gascar, in Ceylon, in some part of India, or in the re- 
motest regions of Arabia ? The last, perhaps, is the 
most probable conjecture. 

IV. LuD. By some supposed to be blended with the 
descendant of Ham of the same name. By others, the 

Settlement of Elam ? Of Ashur ? Of Arphaxad ? Descendants 
of Arphaxad ? Of Joktan ? AVhat is said of Ophir ? Settlement 
of Lud ? 



DESCENDANTS OF SHEM. 47 

Lydians of Asia Minor ; by others, a remote tribe in 
India. (Gen. x: 13, 22.) 

V. Aram. A large central tract of country lying 
between Phoenicia, Lebanon, and Palestine on one side, 
and the Tigris and the Taurus on the other. A portion 
of this country between the Tigris and the Euphrates 
was called Mesopotamia, or more frequently Padan- 
aram. On this side of the Euphrates, it included 

1. The region around Damascus, in Syria. 

2. Syria-maachah (1 Chron. xix : 6), near Bashan, 
and the portion of Reuben. 

3. Geshur in Syria, near Bashan, (2 Sam. xv : 8 ; 
Josh, xii : 5.) 

4. Beth-rehob, at the foot of Anti-Libanus, (2 Sam. 
x: 6.) 

The colonies from these regions were, 1. Uz; 2. Hul; 
3. Gether; 4. Mash; of which nothing is known. Uz, the 
native place of Job, appears to have been either adja- 
cent to Edom, or a part of it. (Lament, iv : 2L) The 
friends of Job appear to have come from Edomitish 
cities. (Job ii : 11.) From these hints it is with proba- 
bility referred to the mountains south of the Dead Sea 
and east of the Akabah. 

In this chart of the countries settled by the descend- 
ants of the three sons of Noah, it will be seen that they 
represent the three divisions of the earth; Asia, Africa, 
and Europe. The sons of Japheth peopled Europe, and 
the north-west of Asia ; those of Ham, the southern part 
of Arabia and Africa. The sons of Shem occupied the 
central parts of Asia, blending in Arabia with the de- 

What was the situation of Aram ? Colonies from Aram? Situa- 
tion of Uz ? Countries peopled by the sons of Japheth ? By the 
sons of Ham ? By the sons of Shem ? 



49 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

scendants of Ham, finally supplanting them, and 
spreading eastward over southern Asia. The nations 
that sprang from Shem, longest retained the primitive 
religion, and the worship of the true God. The family 
of Abraham were selected from them to be the deposi- 
taries of God's word, and to give unto the world the 
Saviour and Redeemer of men. In the election of 
grace, the blessing of the promise was afterwards re- 
stricted to the race of Israel, to the descendants of Ju- 
dah, to the family of David. 

DIVISION OF THE EARTH. 

The brief notice concerning Peleg, ^« in his days was 
the earth divided," is interesting in several points of 
view ; and we may now remark a manifold significance 
of the name of this Patriarch. It means «« division," 
with an express reference to the division of the earth : 
but it seems to have a further significance in these 
respects : — 

1. Peleg is central between Noah and Abraham ; 

Noah Peleg Abraham 

Shem Reu 

Arphaxad Serug 

Salah Nahor ^ 

Heber Terah 

« 

2. At Peleg the term of human life is abruptly dimi- 
nished the second time. Arphaxad, the first-born after 
the flood, lived not half the term of the antediluvian lives : 
at Peleg it is reduced from an average of about 450 
years to 239. Hence Peleg, the fourth from Arphaxad, 

In whose days was the earth divided ? Meaning of the name 
Peleg ? What divisions are noticeable in his days ? When was 
human life shortened ? 



» DIVISION OF THE EARTH. 49 

dies before all his ancestors, and even ten years before 
Noah : and the middle year of his life is also that of 
Arphaxad : also^ if the life of Eber be divided into three 
equal parts, the first ends at the central year of Peleg, 
the second at the death of Reu, and the whole life four 
years after the death of Abraham. The Rabbins and 
old commentators suppose, not unreasonably, that the 
name of Peleg's brother, Joktan (small), relates to this 
diminution of the term of man's life. 

We will suppose, then, that the great event in refe- 
rence to which Peleg has his name, occurred about the 
middle of his life, i. e. about 220 years after the flood. 
The interval here supposed between the dispersion of 
nations and the Call of Abraham, is amply sufficient for 
the growth of populous nations and the foundation of 
considerable empires. For in 100 years from the flood, 
the population would have grown from 3 males to 400, 
if it doubled its numbers but once in 14 years. 

In the second century, since all the males who lived 
in the first century were still in the vigour of life, the 
term of doubling cannot have been more than half 
what it was in the former century. Hence at the end 
of this century the population might number 400 X 2^*, 
or about 205,000 males ; and at the 220th year, it 
would number, at the same rate, more than seven times 
as much, or a million and a half of males. These, dis- 
persed over the world, and still living on an average 
200 years each, are abundantly sufficient to have over- 
spread the territory of the most ancient nations with a 
numerous and civilized population in the course of 

How does the duration of his life compare with that of his ances- 
tors ? How often may the population have doubled after the flood ? 
What the population at the dispersion ? 
4 



50 HISTORICAL GEOGBAPHY. 

about 200 years from that time. For it is to be remem- 
bered that the antediluvian arts of civilization were of 
course preserved among the descendants of Noah. 

THE BUILDING OF BABEL. (B. C. 2246.) 

This is the usual period to which the dispersion of 
the nations is assigned. On the supposition of two dis- 
persions, the building of Babel may be dated somewhat 
later. Nimrod became the leader of a roving, godless 
horde, who, after the first dispersion, wandered far 
beyond the mountains of Armenia, southward, until 
they came to the plains of Shinar, where they attempt- 
ed to make a permanent settlement. 

The tower of Babel was situated on the west bank 
of the Euphrates, near the site of the ancient city of 
Babylon, more than 300 miles above the mouth of the 
river, and some 700 miles east of Jerusalem. It result- 
ed from an impious attempt to build a tower, whose top 
should reach to heaven. 

The structure was an immense quadrangular pyra- 
mid, built of bricks, and was carried to a vast height, 
before the suspension of the work by the confusion of 
tongues and the dispersion of the builders. The early 
traditions respecting this ancient structure, and the 
ruins of it that still remain, sufficiently show that it was 
a stupendous work, not only for that, but for any age. 

It has given the builders of it a name in all the earth 
for their amazing work of folly and fruitless toil. Euse- 
bius has preserved an extract from Abydenus, an Assy- 
rian historian, in which he says, '^ that the first men who 

AVhen was the Tower of Babel built ? On the supposition of two 
dispersions, at what time ? Situation of Babel ? Design and form 
of it ? What tradition of the destruction of the Tower of Babel is 
mentioned by Eusebius ? 



BUILDING OF BABEL. 51 

were upon the earth, relying on their strength and 
greatness, and despising the gods, and thinking them- 
selves superior to them, undertook to build a high tower 
on the spot where Babylon now stands ; that the tower 
had nearly reached to heaven, when the winds, coming 
to the help of the gods, threw down the immense mass 
of stones upon the heads of the builders, and that Baby- 
lon took its rise from these ruins; and, whereas before 
that period all men had but one language, they now 
began to speak different tongues."* 

There is also an extract to the same effect from an 
ancient Chaldee work, which Alexander caused to be 
translated from the royal library at Nineveh. '^ From 
the gods, who inhabited the earth in the first ages, there 
sprang the race of giants of immense size, and of the 
strongest bodily frame. Full of insolent daring, they 
formed the ambitious design to built a lofty tower ; but 
while they were employed in the erection, a dreadful 
tempest, raised by the gods, destroyed the huge edifice, 
and scattered among them unknown words, whence 
arose discord and confusion."! 

The Sibylline oracle contains a similar tradition, and 
the classical fable of the giants attempting to scale the 
heavens by piling Ossa upon Pelion, is a fiction founded 
on the same fact. 

The ruins of this vast tower, notwithstanding all the 
depredations of man, generation after generation, and 
the waste of time, age after age, still remain an endu- 
ring monument at once of the ambitious impiety of this 
ancient race, and of the avenging justice of God. 

What Chaldee tradition derived from Alexander is mentioned ? 
Of the Sibylline oracle ? Classical tradition respecting the giants ? 

■ ' .-.. — .-I ■ ■ ■ I.. ■ I ■■ . M ■■-■■! I .1 II ■ I I, ■ ^. M l, ,■■■■—.■» —■■Mil. ■ ■ — ^ 

* Euseb. Praep. Evang. ix. 14, cited by Rosenmiiller. 

f Moses of Chorene, in " Armen. Hist." i. 8, cited by Rosenmiiller. 



52 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

On the west side of the Euphrates, at the distance of 
a few miles from the other ruins of Babylon, stands a 
huge mountain mass of ruins — Birs JYemroud^ the 
Tower of Nimrod. ''Its present height, reckoning to 
the bottom of the tower on the summit, is two hundred 
feet ; the tower itself being thirty-five feet. Looking at it 
from the west, the entire mass rises at once from the 
plain in one stupendous, though irregular pyramidal hill. 
It is composed of fine bricks, kiln-baked. From the 
western side two of its stories may be distinctly seen ; 
the first is about sixty feet high, cloven in the middle 
by deep ravines. The tower-like looking ruin on the 
top is a solid mass, tw^enty-eight feet wdde, of the most 
beautiful masonry ; to all appearance it formed an angle 
of some square building, the riiins of which are yet to 
be seen on the eastern side. 

'' The cement which connects the bricks is so hard 
that Ker Porter found it impossible to chip off the 
smallest piece ; and for this reason none of the inscrip- 
tions can be copied, as they are always on the lower 
surface of the bricks. It is rent from the top nearly 
half-way to the^ bottom ; and at its foot lie several un- 
shapen masses of fine brick- work, still bearing traces 
of a violent fire, which has given them a vitrified ap- 
pearance, whence it has been conjectured that the tower 
had been struck with lightning." 

Sir Robert Ker Porter says, "that there are immense 
fragments of brick- work of no determinate figure tum- 
bled together, and cemented into solid, vitrified masses, 
as if they had undergone the action of the fiercest heat." 



Ruins of Babel, where found ? Height and appearance ? Of what 
constructed ? How many stories remain ? Conjecture as to the 
means of its destruction ? 



ABRAHAM IN CANAAN. 53 

We are naturally led to connect these appearances with 
the tradition that the Tower of Babel was overthrown by 
fire from Heaven. 

The appearance of the hill on the eastern side evi- 
dently shows that this enormous mass has been reduced 
more than one-half. Only three stories, out of the eight 
which it formerly contained, can now be discerned. 
Yet the appearance of the Tower of Nimrod is sublime 
even in its ruins. Clouds play around its summit ; its 
recesses are inhabited by lions ; these were quietly 
basking on the heights when Porter approached it, and, 
scarcely intimidated by the cries of the Arabs, gradually 
and slowly descended into the plains. (Comp. Isa. xiii : 
20, 21.) 



CHAPTER III. 

FROM THE CALL OF ABRAHAM TO THE DESCENT 

INTO EGYPT. 

A. M. 2083--2299. 2019—1803 B. C. 

This venerable patriarch of the faithful lived origi- 
nally in Ur of the Chaldees, situated in Mesopotamia, 
near the Euphrates, and about 400 miles north-east from 
Jerusalem. From thence he removed to Haran, a short 
distance from Ur ; and from this, at the command of 
God, he parted from his kindred and his country to go 
to the distant land of Canaan, the future residence of 
his posterity. 

Sixty- four years afterwards, Abraham sent his ser- 

Ruins of Babel, how inhabited ? 

Call of Abraham, when ? His native country, what and where ? 



54 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

vant to his kindred to solicit a wife for his son Isaac. 
(Gen. xxiv.) And Jacob, a hundred years later, tra- 
versed the same journey on a similar errand. (Gen. 
xxvii: 43; xxviii; 10; xxix: 4.) 

Haran is enumerated, a thousand years after the call 
of Abraham, among the towns which had been taken by 
the predecessors of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and 
is also mentioned still later among the cities that traded 
with Tyre. (2 Kings xix: 12; Isa. xxxvii: 12; Ez. 
xxvii: 23.) 

Terah, and the whole family, accompanied Abraham 
to Haran, where, after a residence of fifteen years, Terah 
died. (Gen. xi: 32.) 

On the renewal of the promise, Abraham, at the com- 
mand of God, resumed his journey towards Canaan, 
and rested on the plain of Moreh, at Sichem, afterwards 
Shechem, near which is Jacob's Well. His next en- 
campment was twenty miles south, between Bethel and 
Hai. From this he proceeded still further south, through 
the country, and the year following was compelled by 
famine to go down into Egypt, a distance of two hun- 
dred and fifty or three hundred miles. After a short 
residence here, he returned to his former encampment, 
near Bethel, eight or ten miles north of Jerusalem, 
greatly enriched by presents from Pharaoh. 

The separation of Lot from Abraham soon followed. 
(Gen. xiii: 11.) The former selected for his residence 
the vale of Siddim, in the plain of Jordan, south of the 
Dead Sea ; and the latter, Mamre, near Hebron. (Gen. 
xiii: 18.) 



What known of Haran ? Distance and course to Canaan ? En- 
campment at Shechem, and Bethel ? Descent into Egypt ; continu- 
ance there ? Separation of Lot from Abraham ? Chosen residence 
of each ? 



BATTLE OF THE KINGS. 55 

The battle of the Kings occurred soon after the settle- 
ment of Lot in the cities of the plain. Chedorlaomer, an 
ambitious chieftain from the region of Babylon, in con- 
nexion with Tidal, an unknown prince, had come from 
beyond the Euphrates twelve years before, and made a 
conquest of that region of country which Lot had chosen 
for his residence. Incensed at the revolt of the cap- 
tured cities, he now returned and ravaged the country 
of Edom, south and west of the Dead Sea, inhabited 
by the Amalekites and Amorites. Lot and all his pos- 
sessions fell a prey to this marauder. 

Abraham, on hearing of this catastrophe, immedi- 
ately went in pursuit, with his whole household of train^ 
ed servants, and three neighbouring chiefs. The pur- 
suit led him through the whole length of the country, to 
the head waters of Jordan, where he routed the foe and 
pursued him many miles on his retreat to Hobah, near 
Damascus. From this expedition Abraham returned 
with Lot and his family, bringing Chedorlaomer cap- 
tive, whom he slew in the King's Dale, just north of 
Jerusalem. 

The promise was again renewed to Abraham ; and, 
after a residence of ten years in Canaan, Ishmael was 
born. rGen. xvi.) Thirteen years after the birth of Ish- 
mael, Sodom was destroyed by fire from heaven, A. M. 
2108, B. C. 1994, and 452 years after the flood. (Gen. 
xviii — xix.) 

The year following, when Abraham was a hundred 
years old, Isaac was born in Beer-sheba, twenty-five 
miles south-west from Hebron, on the southernmost 

Chedorlaomer, who ? Battle of the Kings ? Course of pursuit ? 
King's Dale, where ? Birth of Ishmael and destruction of Sodom, 
when ? Birth of Isaac, when ? 



56 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

limits of Canaan, and on the border of the great desert 
that lies beyond. (Gen. xxi.) 

This place was a favourite station of the patriarch, 
and occurs so frequently in subsequent history that it 
deserves particular notice. We are indebted to Dr. 
Robinson for authoritative information respecting it. 

On coming up from the desert by a long and tedious 
ascent, he came out on a broad, undulating country, 
overspread to a considerable extent with grass, and 
affording in ordinary seasons good pasturage, a grateful 
evidence that the desert was at an end. On the north 
side of a broad beaten course he found two wells, fifty- 
five rods distant from each other, one twelve feet in 
diameter and forty-four and a half feet deep ; the other, 
five feet in diameter, and forty-two in depth. The 
water w^as sweet and abundant, and flocks were gather- 
ing around to drink at these fountains. 

On some low hills a little north, he found ruins in- 
dicative of a considerable village, in the remote ages 
of its prosperity. 

. '^ Here, then, is the place where the patriarchs Abra- 
ham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt! Here Abraham dug 
perhaps this very well ; and journeyed from hence with 
Isaac to Mount Moriah to offer him up there in sacrifice. 
From this place Jacob fled to Padan-aram after acqui- 
ring the birthright and blessing belonging to his brother ; 
and here too he sacrificed to the Lord, on setting off to 
meet his son Joseph in Egypt. Here Samuel made his 
sons judges ; and from here Elijah w^andered out into 
the southern desert, and sat down under a shrub of Re- 
tem, just as our Arabs sat down under it every day and 



Relate Robinson's description of Beer-sheba. The dimensions of 
the walls, and their distance from each other? What ruins are 
found there ? Historical associations and incidents ? 



OFFERING OF ISAAC. 57 

every night. Here was the border of Palestine proper, 
which extended from Dan [on the extreme north] to 
Beer-sheba. (Gen. xxi : 31; xxii : 19; xxvi : 23; 
xxviii : 10 ; xlvi : 1 ; 1 Sam. viii : 2 ; 1 Kings xix : 3 ; 
2 Sam. xvii : 11.) Over these smiling hills the flocks 
of the patriarchs once roved by thousands ; where now 
we found only a few camels, asses, and goats."^ 

From the birth of Isaac until his own death, seventy- 
five years afterwards, the venerable patriarch seems to 
have lived a pastoral life in the south country, compris- 
ing the southern part of Canaan, removing from place 
to place, as he had occasion to find pasturage for his 
numerous flocks and herds. He resided '' many days'' 
at Gerar, in the land of the Philistines, evidently be- 
cause of its fertility. Isaac afterw^ards went to Gerar 
on account of a famine. It is supposed to have been 
situated a little north of west from Beer-sheba, not far 
from Gaza. But its locality is totally unknown. (Gen. 
xxi ; xxvi.) Besides this, Hebron and Beer-sheba were 
the favourite residences of Abraham. 

The trial of his faith in offering Isaac on Mount Mo- 
riah at Jerusalem occurred when Isaac w^as of adult 
age, twenty years or more, and was as remarkable an 
exemplification of faith on the part of the son in meekly 
submitting to the stroke, as of the father in lifting his hand 
to take the life of his child. (Gen. xxii.) Mount Moriah 
in Jerusalem is supposed to have been the scene of this 
offering. Others, in consideration of the distance, three 
days, suppose it to have been Gerizim, near Shechem. 

About twenty years later, when Abraham was a hun- 

Subsequent life of Abraham ? Offering of Isaac, where ? Dis- 
tance of the journey ? 



* Robinson's Researches, i. 302. 



58 HrsTomcAL geography. 

dred and thirty-seven, and Isaac thirty-seven years of 
age, Sarah died, at the age of a hundred and twenty- 
seven, and was buried in the cave of Machpelah, at 
Hebron. (Gen. xxiii.) 

Abraham soon provides a wife for Isaac, by sending 
his faithful servant to his own country w^ith proposals 
of marriage with Isaac, to some of his kindred. The 
result was the marriage of Isaac with Rebekah, daughter 
of Bethuel, and grand-daughter of Nahor, Abraham's 
brother. (Gen. xxiv.) 

About the same time Abraham married Keturah, and 
thirty-five years after this marriage died, at the age of 
a hundred and seventy-five, and was buried in the cave 
of Machpelah, in Hebron, with Sarah, his wife. 

HEBRON. 

Hebron is situated in a deep and narrow valley in the 
mountains of Judah, twenty-two miles south from Jeru- 
salem, and an equal distance north-east of Beer-sheba. 
It is an Arab town of 5000 or 10,000 inhabitants, com- 
pletely built of stone, on the declivities of the valley. 
In the bottom of the valley, just below^ the town, is a 
large square reservoir, built of stone, for the reception 
of water, which it collects in the rainy season. It is a 
hundred and thirty-five feet on each side, and twenty- 
one feet eight inches in depth. Above the town there is 
another cistern of smaller dimensions, for a similar pur- 
pose. These pools," in the opinion of Dr. Robinson, are 
of high antiquity, " and one of them is probably to be 
regarded as the pool of Hebron, over which David hung 
up the assassins of Ishbosheth." (2 Sam. iv: 12.) 

Age of Isaac ? Death and burial of Sarah ? Marriage of Isaac 
with Rebekah ? Of Abraham with Keturah ? Death of Abraham ? 

Hebron — situation ? Pool of Hebron ? Cave of Machpelah ? Of 
whom did Abraham obtain it ? 



HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS AND INCIDENTS. 59 

The reputed site of the cave of Machpelah, the sepul- 
chre of the patriarchs, is covered by a Turkish mosque, 
and enclosed by a wall of great antiquity, probably 
beyond the period of the Christian era. This enclosure 
is two hundred feet by a hundred and fifteen, and fifty 
or sixty feet in height. It is to the Moslem a sacred 
place ; and neither Jew nor Christian is permitted, on 
any occasion, to enter within the enclosure. 

HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS AND INCIDENTS. 

With the exception of Jerusalem, no place on earth is 
more hallowed by high and holy associations, than this 
venerable city of Hebron. It is, perhaps, the oldest inha- 
bited city in the world, and still survives the waste of ages 
by lightning, fire and tempest, earthquakes, wars, pesti- 
lence and famine. Here lived the venerable patriarchs, 
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and here they were buried, 
with their wives. Here they communed with God, and 
received the promises and the seal of the covenant. 

The spies that went up from the wilderness to search 
the land, came to Hebron, then inhabited by the sons 
of Anak. (Num. xiii.) 

It was utterly destroyed by Joshua (Josh, x.) ; and 
given to Caleb for a possession, in reward for his cou- 
rage and trust in God. 

It was one of the cities of refuge, and a levitical city 
of the sons of Aaron. (Josh, xxi: 7; xxi: 11.) 

David was here anointed king over Israel ; and made it, 
for seven years and six months, the seat of his kingdom. 
(2 Sam. ii: 11.) Abner also was here assassinated by 
Joab (2 Sam. iii : 27), and Absalom made it his head- 
quarters in his rebellion against his father. (2 Sam. xv.) 

Cave of Machpelah ? Of whom did Abraham obtain it ? 
Historical associations ? Age of the city ? Connexion of the 
patriarchs with it ? Relate the subsequent events ? 



MO HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

Rehoboam made it one of his fenced cities. It was 
resettled after the captivity, and from that period it dis« 
appears for many centuries from the page of history. 

ISHMAEL, AND THE SONS OF KETURAH. 

Ishmael assisted at the interment of his father Abra- 
ham, and seems to have lived on terms of friendship 
with Isaac in the desert south of Canaan, where he rose 
to influence and power, and died at the age of a hun- 
dred and thirty-seven years, 1870 B. C, leaving twelve 
sons, who became the heads of as many tribes. The 
younger sons of Abraham, the offspring of Keturah, 
had already been settled in the ^' east country," beyond 
the valley of the Jordan and the Arabah. 

PASTORAL LIFE OF ISAAC. 

Isaac now addicted himself to a quiet, pastoral life, 
to which his gentle disposition and contemplative habits 
were well suited. Like Abraham in the latter part of 
his life, Isaac ranged with his flocks over the country 
west and south of Hebron to a considerable distance, 
often digging wells for the supply of his flocks, and 
peaceably withdrawing rather than to contend for them 
with his neighbours. 

Once, by reason of famine, he was compelled, ai? 
Abraham had been a century before, to repair to Gerar 
to obtain supplies from Abimelech, who is supposed to 
have been a son of the prince of the same name who 
reigned there in the days of Abraham. 

What became of Hebron after the captivity ? 

History of Ishmael (Gen. xxv : 11-18) ? Where did his posterity 
settle ? What was Isaac's manner of life ? His character ? Who 
was Abimelech? Where was Gerar? 



BETHEL. 61 

DEATH OF ISAAC. 

Twenty years after the marriage of Isaac, Esau and 
Jacob were born ; and at the age of seventy- seven, 
Jacob obtained, by an unlawful device, the birthright 
over his elder brother Esau. (Gen. xxvii.) 

Isaac had been for some time afflicted with blindness, 
and felt that his death was near ; but he lived until the 
jealousy and enmity of his two sons, which had embit- 
tered his old age, were healed, and enjoyed, for more 
than twenty years, the society of Jacob and his family 
after his return to Canaan. Being old and full of years, 
he gave up the ghost, and died at Hebron, aged a hun- 
dred and eighty years, and was gathered unto his 
people, and his sons Jacob and Esau buried him. (Gen. 
XXXV : 27.) 

BETHEL. 

But a single instance is recorded in the journey of 
Jacob to Haran, to escape the vengeance of Esau, and 
obtain a wife of his kindred. This incident is his re- 
markable dream at Bethel, and his vision of the ladder, 
and of the angels of God ascending and descending. 
(Gen. xxviii.) 

In the Mountains of Ephraim, twelve miles north of 
Jerusalem, and a little east of the road leading to Ga- 
lilee through Samaria, was Bethel. It was situated on 
a tongue of land between two valleys which unite just 
below, and run off to the south-east towards the Jordan. 
The place is now" overspread with ruins ; and though 
uninhabited, must once have been a town of some im- 
portance. Here are the remains of a vast reservoir, three 
hundred and fourteen feet in length by two hundred 

Infirmity of Isaac, and trials and tribulations of his old age ? Age 
of Jacob when he obtained the birthright ? Manner of obtaining it ? 
Relate the vision of Jacob at Bethel ? Situation of Bethel ? 



62 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPny. 

and seventeen in breadth. The region around, as m 
the days of Abraham and Jacob, still affords excellent 
and extensive ground for pasturage and tillage 

HISTORICAL INCIDENTS. 

Bethel, originally Luz, occurs often in the early his- 
tory of Abraham and his descendants. Here he pitched 
his tent on his first arrival in the land, and called upon 
the name of the Lord. (Gen. xii: 8.) Jacob, a hun- 
dred and fifty-six years afterwards, beheld here a vision 
of the God of Abraham, received the promise, and en- 
tered into covenant with Jehovah. Twenty-one years 
after, he returned, enriched with the blessings of God's 
providence, to fulfil his vow and commune with God. 
(Gen. XXXV.) 

Bethel was on the borders of Benjamin and Ephraim 
(Josh, xvi: 1, 2; xviii: 13, 22; Judg. i: 22-6), 
and was violently wrested from the former by the sons 
of Joseph. The ark of the covenant was for a long 
time here, to which the children of Israel came often 
to inquire of the Lord. (Judg. xx: 26, 27.) Samuel 
came here also once a year to judge the people. (1 Sam. 
vii : 16.) Bethel was desecrated by the idolatrous 
worship of a golden calf erected by Jeroboam (1 Kings 
xii), which was destroyed by Josiah (2 Kings xxiii: 15), 
and the prediction of the disobedient prophet was ful- 
filled. (1 Kings xiii.) 

<' The scriptural associations of Bethel are both de- 
lightful and painful. Shaded by a pastoral tent, on 
the heights between it and Hai to the east, we call, 
with the father of the faithful, on the name of the Lord. 



What ruins are stiU found at Bethel ? Relate the encampnaent 
of Abraham here, and visits of Jacob also. What is said of the ark 
at Bethel ? Of the visits of Samuel ? Of idolatrous worship there ? 



MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU. 63 

Interested and solemnized by the glorious vision of 
Jacob, we say of it, ' This is none other but the house 
of God, and this is the gate of heaven ;' and, with the 
same patriarch, we there make an altar unto God, who 
answered us in our distress. We find it, after the death 
of Joshua, fallen, through the righteous vengeance of 
God on its immoral inhabitants, into the hands of the 
house of Joseph. We visit it with the devout and 
upright Samuel in his annual circuit of judgment. We 
see Jeroboam planting there one of his abominable 
calves to tempt Israel to sin, and there signally pun- 
ished by God. Our spirit is relieved when its idolatrous 
establishment is totally destroyed by Josiah, the regal 
reformer of the Jewish nation.""^ 

MARRIAGES AND FAMILY OF JACOB. 

The subsequent history of Jacob after leaving Bethel, 
is fully recorded in the Scriptures: his marriage with 
Leah and Rachel, daughters of Laban his uncle ; his ser- 
vice of twenty years under Laban ; his departure for the 
land of promise with great possessions; the meeting of 
his brother Esau, and their mutual reconciliation ; are 
fully detailed. (Gen. xxviii — xxxiii.) 

MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU AT MAHANAIM. 

The interview took place atMahanaim, in the moun- 
tains of Gilead, east of the valley of the Jordan, below 
the Sea of Galilee, and north of the river Jabbok. 
Esau came up from Seir, in the mountains of Edom, 

Relate the destruction of Bethel by Josiah. Relate reception of 
Jacob by his kinsmen ; his marriages ; and his departure for his 
own country. Where was Mahanaim ? Trace the route of Jacob, 
and of Esau. 



Dr. Wilson's "Lands of the BibV^ ii. 290. 



64 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

south of the Red Sea, to meet Jacob, by invitation from 
the latter. The course of their journeys brought the 
two parties together at this place, which afterwards is of 
frequent occurrence in Jewish history. 

It fell to the tribe of Gad in the distribution. (Josh, xiii : 
26-30.) Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was here made king by 
Abner (2 Sam. ii ; 8.) ; and David, driven from his throne 
by the treason of Absalom, fled also to Mahanaim. (2 
Sam. xviii.) The battle between the forces of David and 
Absalom, in w^hich the latter was slain, was fought in a 
place near Mahanaim, which, for reasons which do not 
now appear, was called the Woods of Ephraim. (2 Sam. 
xviii: 6.) The site of this ancient town has not been 
clearly identified. In the immediate vicinity are we to 
look also for Peniel, the encampment where Jacob wres- 
tled with the angel of the covenant. (Gen. xxxii : 30.) 

SUCCOTH. 

The next station of the patriarch was Succoth, a city 
of Gad, on the east bank of Jordan, where he passed 
over into Canaan. Gideon, near six hundred years 
after, crossed the Jordan at this place in pursuit of the 
kings ; and Solomon had a brass-foundry in the neigh- 
bourhood for casting the vessels of the temple. (1 Kings 
vii : 46 ; 2 Chron. iv : 17.) 

JACOB AT SHECHEM— SHALIM. 

After a short residence at Hebron, where the dreams 

Describe David's flight to this place, and the death of Absalom. 
Where were the woods of Ephraim ? Where was Peniel ? De- 
scribe the wrestling of Jacob with the angel of the covenant. Where 
was Succoth? Relate the historical incidents connected with it. 

For what were Shechem and Shalim remarkable ? Relate the 
dreams of Joseph and the conspiracy of his brethren. 



Joseph's history. 65 

of Joseph awoke the jealousy of his brethren, and after 
the reputed death of his favourite son, Jacob himself 
removed to the plain of Shechem, a luxuriant valley, 
in which Jacob's well is situated. Shalim, Dr. Robin- 
son supposes, may have been the town of Salim, which 
he saw at a distance on the east side of the valley. In 
this region he is supposed to have resided about eight 
years. 

" Shechem, as the scene of Joseph's death, had a 
strong attraction for the fond old man, who said, «I will 
go down to the grave to my son mourning.' " 

After the slaughter of the Shechemites (Gen. xxxiv.), 
he appears to have retired towards Hebron, tarrying 
awhile at Bethel. 

The subsequent history to the time of Moses, is fully 
recorded in the Scriptures, to which we refer the reader, 
and content ourselves with simply appending a chrono- 
logical table of the principal events. 

Rachel, in giving birth to Benjamin, dies at Bethle- 
hem, while Jacob is on his way from Bethel to Hebron. 
Two years after this Isaac dies, aged 180 years. (Gen. 
XXXV : 28.) B.C. 1813, A.M. 2289, and 632 years after 
the flood. 

Joseph is now in prison in Egypt. (Gen. xxxix ; xl.) 
Pharaoh's dream and Joseph's enlargement occur in the 
year following. (Gen. xli.) 



B. C. 



1805. Seven years of famine begin. 
1804. First descent of Jacob's sons into Egypt. (Gen. 
xlii.) 

Death of Rachel and of Isaac ? The years of famine ? Joseph's 
first and second interview with his brethren ? Discovery of Joseph 
to his brethren? 
5 



66 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

B. C. 

1803. Second visit. Joseph discovers himself. Jacob 
and his household descend into Egypt. (Gen. 
xliii; xliv.) 

1786. Jacob dies, aged 147 years. (Gen. xlvii — 1.) 

1732. Joseph dies, aged 110 years. (Gen. 1 : 26.) 

1666. Moses is born. 

1626. Moses (40 years old) flees to Midian. 

THE LAND OF GOSHEN. 

On going down into Egypt, the whole caravan of 
Jacob and his sons, with their families, halted on the 
eastern borders of the land of Goshen, and sent forward 
one of their number to notify the governor of their 
coming. Joseph hastened from the court of Pharaoh, to 
meet his brethren in the land of Goshen. This province 
now became the residence of the descendants of Jacob 
for two hundred years. Here, in process of time, they 
were subjected, for more than eighty years, to a cruel 
oppression under Egyptian task-masters. Here were 
wrought those stupendous miracles, denominated the 
Plagues of Egypt, which subdued the proud heart of 
Pharaoh, and compelled him to let the people go, ac- 
cording to the Lord's command. Where then was the 
land of Goshen ? 

The river Nile, at a great distance from the sea, di- 
vides into several branches, and finally discharges its 
waters into the Mediterranean through several separate 



Joseph's settlement of his brethren in Goshen ? The death of 
Jacob ; and of Joseph ? The birth of Moses, and his flight ? "Where 
was Midian ? Where did Joseph meet his father and his brethren 
on their going down into Egypt ? What land did he give them to 
dwell in ? How long did the Israelites dwell in Goshen ? Where 
was Goshen ? 



LAND OF GOSHEN. 67 

mouths, at a distance from each other. From the east- 
ern branch of the Nile, at some distance from the sea, 
a^ broad valley runs off in a south-east direction far 
towards the head waters of the Red Sea. 

This valley, fertilized by the inundations of the Nile, 
and overspread with verdure, afforded pasture- ground 
for flocks and herds, while its rich alluvial soil yielded 
in great abundance the various productions of the coun- 
try. Through this valley ran an ancient canal, con- 
necting the waters of the Nile with the Red Sea, and 
commanding to a great extent the commerce of the 
East. 

The country adjacent remains to this day an im- 
portant province of Egypt. Here was the land of 
Goshen, where Joseph settled his brethren. It com- 
prised the land lying on the banks of the eastern arm 
of the Nile, and extended eastward to the Arabian 
desert. 

Though itself almost surrounded by a desert waste, 
it had very fruitful districts, and yielded abundant pas- 
turage. It was therefore suited to the sons of Jacob, 
" whose trade had been about cattle from their youth" 
(Gen. xlvi : 34) ; it was. also one of the richest pro- 
vinces of the kingdom. He ^' gave them a possession 
in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land" (Gen. 
xlvii: 11), which yielded in abundance the productions 
of the country, and was " as a garden of herbs." 
(Num. xi: 5; Deut. xi: 10.) 

^ I — — ■ ■ — . — ■-■■■ ■ ^ — ■■- -I I , - ■■ - ■ - ■ -■■-..,■,,■.■ —— II w ^ 

What was the soil of Goshen? What canal ran through this 
land ? To what country does it at present belong ? What com- 
prised the land of Goshen ? What is said of its fertility ? In what 
was it suited to the wants of Josephs brethren ? 



68 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

PHARAOH'S TREASURE-CITIES, PITHOM AND RAAMSES. 

Pithom was situated at a little distance eastward of 
the right branch of the Nile, and near the canal which 
connected this river with the Red Sea. Pithom is in- 
disputably the Patumus of Herodotus, who says that 
the waters of the Nile w^ere received into this canal a 
little above the city Bubastis, near the Arabian city 
Patumus, but discharged themselves into the Red Sea. 

The canal, according to Strabo, was one hundred 
feet wide, and sufficiently deep to float large ships. It 
was built about 600 years B. C, by Pharaoh-Necho, by 
whom Josiah was slain at Megiddo. (2 Kings xxiii : 
29,33; 2 Chron. xxxv: 22.) Herodotus gives the 
following account of the construction of this ancient 
canal : — 

''To this king (Psammitichus) succeeded his son 
Neco, who was the first to undertake a canal, leading 
into the Red Sea, and which after him Darius carried 
on : it extends a distance of four days' voyage, and its 
breadth is such that two galleys may work their oars 
abreast in it. 

'' The canal derives its w^ater from the Nile, a short 
distance above Bubastis, [Pibeseth,] near an Arabian 
town called Patumus, [Pithom:] it discharges itself 
into the Red Sea. The excavation was commenced on 
that part of the Egyptian plain which borders on Arabia. 
The mountain which stretches towards Memphis, and 
which contains the quarries, is above the plain at no 
great distance. 

Where was Pithom ? What was its ancient name ? By whom 
and when was the canal built ? What was its width as given by 
Strabo ; as given by Herodotus ? How was it supplied ? What 
is Herodotus's description of it ? 



PITHOM AND RAAMSES. 69 

" The canal, commencing at the foot of this hill, was 
continued for some length, from west to east, and then 
turning through the defiles, left the mountains, and was 
carried southward into the Arabian Gulf. The shortest 
track from the Northern Sea to the Red Sea, which is 
the same as the Southern Sea, passes by Mount Cas- 
sius, which divides Egypt from Syria : for this mountain 
is but 1000 furlongs from the Arabian Gulf But the 
canal is so much longer than this, as it is more tortuous. 

«' In digging this canal in the reign of Neco, 120,000 
Egyptians perished. He desisted in the midst of the 
work, being opposed by an oracular prediction, which 
declared, that ' he wrought for a barbarian.' 

" Having desisted from this work, Neco betook him- 
self to military exploits. He, therefore, constructed 
galleys, some on the Northern Sea, and some on the 
Arahian Gulf for the Red Sea, Of these vessels the 
stocks ('docks) may yet be seen. The fleets he em- 
ployed as occasion served. Neco invading the Syrians 
(Jews of Syria), overthrew them at Magdolus (Megid- 
do), and then took Cadytes (Jerusalem the holy), a 
great city of Syria."* 

Raamses, called also Rameses, was, like Pithom, a 
fortified city, and the metropolis of Goshen. It was 
situated in the great valley of the canal, near the head 
of the flood waters of the Nile, about midway between 
the Nile and the Red Sea, at the distance of forty miles 
or more from it. At a later period, Rameses took the 
name of Heroopolis, the City of Heroes. In the neigh- 

What is said of the loss of life in the construction of the canal ? 
What mention does Herodotus make of the Red Sea ? Of Neco's 
invasion of Palestine and capture of Jerusalem ? Where was 
Rameses ? What traces of Rameses are still found ? 

* Herodotus, lib. ii. cited by Dr. Wilson. 



70 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

bourhood of what are now called the Bitter Lakes, tra- 
vellers have discovered an extensive heap of ruins, 
which the Arabs denominate Abu Keisheid, indicating 
the position of this ancient city. 

Rameses, the metropolis of Goshen, became the 
rendezvous of the children of Israel previous to their 
departure from Egypt. From hence they began their 
flight from the bondage of Pharaoh. The city naturally 
gave its name to the surrounding country. The sacred 
historian therefore speaks of the Land of Rameses as 
synonymous with the Land of Goshen. (Gen. xlvii : IL) 

SOJOURN IN EGYPT. 

" Now the sojourning of the children of Israel who dwelt 
in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years" (Ex. xii : 
40-42, 51 ). These 430 years are reckoned, not from the 
descent into Egypt, but from the beginning of the so- 
journing of Abraham in Canaan, or from his going down 
into Egypt. This was 23 or 24 years before the birth of 
Isaac ; add 60 years to the birth of Jacob, 130 years to 
the descent ; from the descent to the exodus, 217. 

These several periods added equal 430 years; 23 + 
60 + 130 + 217 = 430. The exodus, according to this 
construction of the chronology, was the fulfilment of the 
promise recorded in the fifteenth chapter of Genesis, 13th 
and 14th verses : " Know of a surety that thy seed shall 
be a stranger in the land that is not theirs, and shall serve 
them ; and they shall afflict them four hundred years ; and 
also that nation whom they shall serve, will I judge ; and 
afterwards shall they come out with great substance." 

What was the Land of Rameses ? Where did the Children of 
Israel rendezvous previous to their departure from Egypt ? 

How are the 430 years of the bondage in Egypt computed ? What 
was the promise and prediction respecting it ? 



THE EXODUS. 71 

CHAPTER IV, 

THE EXODUS OF THE ISRAELITES FROM EGYPT. 

B. C. 1586—1546. 

With urgent haste the Children of Israel took their 
departure from Rameses towards the Isthmus of Suez, 
and encamped the first night at Succoth (Ex. xii : 37 ; 
Num. xxxiii: 3, 5), a station midway between Rame- 
ses and the borders of the Arabian desert north of Suez. 
At the end of the second day they had already arrived 
at the borders of this desert, at Etham, 

Twelve miles north-west of Suez, is a well, two 
hundred and fifty feet deep, defended by a fortification 
and a garrison. South and east of this, three miles from 
Suez, is another watering-place, which supplies the city 
W'ith water. At one of these places it is reasonable to 
suppose that the Israelites encamped, where they might 
be supplied with water. Etham was therefore situated 
somewhere in the region above the northern point of the 
Red Sea, in the neighbourhood of the Arabian desert. 

Here their natural course would have led them to 
advance directly into the desert, passing around the head 
waters of the Red Sea, and thence southward down the 
eastern shore of it ; but instead of this, they turned to 
the south, and directed their course along its w^estern 
coast (Ex. xiv : 2 ; Num. xxxiii: 7), and encamped near 
Pi-hahiroth, betw^een Migdol and the sea, over against 

In what manner did the Israelites depart from Rameses ? Where 
were their first and second encampments ? What watering-places 
are there near Suez ? Where must Etham have been ? From Etham 
what was the natural course of the Israelites ? What course did 
they take ? 



72 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Baal-zephon. This movement must have seemed to 
the Israelites the extreme of infatuation ; but it had 
the effect to draw Pharaoh after them, and to accomplish 
his overthrov^. 

The position of these places cannot be defined. 
Many suppose Migdol to be the same as Magdolum, a 
strong military fortress on the northern frontier of Egypt, 
which commands the route to the land of Canaan by the 
coast of the Mediterranean. According to this view, 
the phrase '' between Migdol and the sea," indicates 
the dangers to which the Israelites were exposed on eitJier 
side. From Migdol on the left, the garrison, marching 
out, might intercept their flight, while the sea opposed 
them on the right. 

Instead of hastening forw^ard to free themselves from 
this unfortunate dilemma as soon as possible, they turned 
down the desert shore of the Red Sea on the west side 
of it, where, hemmed in by the desert and the sea, they 
seemed to become an easy prey to their pursuers. 

PI-HAHIROTH, BAAL-ZEPHON, AND THE PASSAGE THROUGH 

THE RED SEA. 

Of the stations here mentioned, no trace remains ; nor 
is it probable that either their position, or the exact place 
of the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea, 
will ever be determinately established. Niebuhr, Dr. 
Robinson, and many others, limit the passage to the 
neighbourhood of Suez. From this town an arm of the 

Between Migdol and the sea what position did they take ? What 
is said of Migdol ? What is meant by the expression, " between 
Migdol and the sea'' ? In what situation were the Israelites placed 
by their movement ? 

Is anything known of Pi-hahiroth and Baal-zephon ? Where, ac- 
cording to Dr. Robinson, did the Israelites cross the Red Sea ? 



PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA. 73 

sea sets up some distance towards the north-east. This 
bay is less than a mile in width, and is easily forded at 
low water, on sand-bars that run across it. 

The tide, however, rises here more than six feet, 
rendering the passage impracticable in flood-tide, and 
at all times more or less difficult, so that caravans 
never cross the ford. Bonaparte nearly lost his life in 
1799, in crossing at this very place, though attended by 
guides who were well acquainted with the ground. 

The blowing of a «^ strong east wind," miraculously^ 
upon the ebbing waters, is supposed to have laid bare 
a space on these shoals wide enough for the immense 
caravan of the Israelites to pass over on dry ground, 
while the deeper waters of the bay remained on their 
left, and the main waters of the sea pressed closely upon 
their right. 

The Egyptians were overthrown before the morning 
appeared^ for so the original should be rendered. Now, 
supposing the Children of Israel to have begun their 
march, as the account of it seems to imply (Ex. xiv : 
21, 22), at a late hour of the night, and considering 
the vast extent of their caravan, they could only have 
had time, before the dawn of morning, to pass over a 
narrow arm of the sea, like that now under considera- 
tion. Such is the reasoning of those who limit the 
passage of the Israelites to the neighbourhood of Suez. 

Professor Ritter, the greatest geographer of the age, 
supposes that the place of the passage is to be sought 

How wide is the bay at Suez ? What passage is found here ? 
What is the height of the tide here ? What incident occurred to 
Bonaparte at this place ? How is a passage supposed to have been 
opened through the sea ? What time could have been occupied in 
the passage ? Where, according to Professor Ritter, was the pass- 
age ? 



74 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

higher up, considerably beyond the present gulf, in the 
ancient bed of the Red Sea^ which extended 90,000 
paces, with an average breadth of 18,000 or 20,000 
paces. At the head of this ancient gulf he locates 
Etham and Pi-hahiroth, somewhere on its Egyptian 
side. {Erdkunde^ ii. 232 seq.) 

Dr. Wilson, and many others, suppose the passage to 
been effected a few miles below the town, across the 
sea itself, where it is about eight or ten miles in width. 
How could the Israelites have been " entangled in the 
landy^^ so as to become an easy prey to their pursuers, 
having only a narrow and fordable frith before them ? 
Whence the consternation and distress of the Israelites ? 
How could the waters he '^a wall unto them, on the 
right hand and on the left;" so as to justify the ex- 
pression '' the waters stood upright as an heap, and 
the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea?" 
Why the triumphant song of Moses at the miraculous 
overthrow of the Egyptians, if this was occasioned 
mainly by the regular return of the tide-waters ? " The 
dukes of Edom shall be amazed ; the mighty men 
of Moab, trembling, shall take hold of them ; all the 
inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away" with fear. 
And w^hy ? Because the Israelites went at low water, 
over a narrow pass, in safety, as is customary to this day, 
and the Egyptians in pursuit were drowned by the 
returning tide ! 

What was the extent of the ancient "bed of the gulf ? Where 
does Professor Ritter locate Ethana and Pi-hahiroth? 

Where, according to Dr. Wilson and others, was the place of pass- 
ing ? Width of the sea at this place ? What objections are there 
to Dr. Robinson^s theory drawn from the alarm of the Israelites ? 
From the song of Moses, and the influence of this event upon other 
nations ? 



PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA. 75 

To obviate these objections, the children of Israel are 
supposed to have turned their course from Etham, and 
passed either in a circuitous route around the Atakah, 
which rises '^ lofty and dark," in a bold bluff from the 
western shore below Suez, or else directly down the 
coast, passing between this headland and the sea. 
This mountain is supposed to have been Baal-zephon ; 
and the valley on the south side of it, Pi-hahiroth. 

Von Raumer, again, supposes them to have made their 
final exit from the south-western border of Goshen, near 
Cairo, and to have pursued their course to the sea 
through a valley, still called the Valley of Wandering, 
south of a chain of mountains which runs from Cairo 
eastward, and terminates in the Atakah, According 
to this theory, Rameses was near Cairo; Succoth and 
Etham were in the valley ; and Migdol, the Deraj, a 
lofty mountain south of Atakah. 

Here they would be beset with dangers on every side. 
On the right, a wide waste of mountains and desert; 
on the left, the impassable Atakah ; before them, the 
sea ; and behind them, the Egyptians in eager pursuit, 
with a regular military force, a large body of cavalry, 
and six hundred chariots of war. 

On the supposition that the waters were divided by 
the direct and immediate power of Jehovah, the Israel- 
ites would have eight or ten hours to make their way 
through the channel opened to them by the hand of 
Omnipotence, a space amply sufficient for a march of 

What was the course of the Israelites from Etham to the place 
of their passage ? What, according to Yon Raumer, was the route 
of the Israelites? Where by this theory were Rameses and Mig- 
dol ? How entangled in land at this place ? What time could they 
have had for the passage ? 



^ 



76 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

ten or twelve miles. An escape so miraculous, through 
the depths of the sea, and the fearful overthrow of Pha- 
raoh and his hosts, might indeed strike the dukes of 
Edom and the surrounding nations, far and near, with 
the fear of Jehovah, and a dread of his people. 

DESERT OF ETHAM. 

The Children of Israel came up from the sea into the 
Desert of Etham ; not to be confounded with the town of 
this name, which has been already mentioned, as the 
sacred place of encampment in their flight This desert 
appears to have extended for some distance down the 
eastern shore of the Red Sea (Num. xxxiii : 8), and 
comprised a part of the desert of Arabia. 

But the wilderness of Etham was only a small section 
of the vast Arabian desert into which the Israelites had 
now entered ; and where, as a just judgment for their 
rebellion and murmurings against God, they were to 
wander for forty years, and to die without seeing the 
good land towards which they were journeying. 

DESERT OF ARABIA. 

This immense desert extends from the Nile, in Lower 
Egypt, to the Euphrates, a distance of one thousand 
miles from west to east. The remarkable valley of 
Akabah, and the mountains of Edom, east of it, divide 
this desert into two great divisions, Arabia Deserta on 
the east, and Arabia Petrsea on the west. The northern 
boundary of the latter extends from the eastern mouth 

Where was the Desert of Etham ? What relation does it bear to 
the town of the same name ? Of what great desert did it form a 
part ? What was the extent of the Desert of Arabia ? What val- 
leys divide it ? 



THE SINAITIC GROUP. 77 

of the Nile, along the Mediterranean to Gaza, and 
thence to the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, form- 
ing the base of a vast triangular desert, in the opposite 
angle of which, between the Red Sea and the Ailanitic 
Gulf, are the mountains of Sinai. 

THE SINAITIC GROUP. 

These mountains consist of an innumerable multitude 
of sharp rocky summits, thrown together in wild con- 
fusion, rising to different heights, leafless and barren, 
without the least trace of verdure to relieve the stern 
and awful features of the prospect. 

The view from one of these summits presents a perfect 
<fsea of desolation," without a parallel on the face of 
the earth. The valleys between the summits sink into 
steep and narrow ravines, with perpendicular sides of 
several hundred feet in height, forming a maze of irregu- 
lar defiles, which can be securely traversed only by 
the wild Arab, who has his habitation in the '^ clefts of 
the valleys," amidst these eternal solitudes. 

Towards the north this wilderness of mountains slopes 
down in an irregular curvilinear line, which turns out- 
ward like a crescent, and runs off, on the one hand, to- 
wards the head of the eastern gulf of the Red Sea; 
and on the other, north-west, to this sea itself. .The 
extremities of the long, irregular line, formed by this 
circular ridge, are joined by a high chain of mountains, 
Et-Tih, extending eastward from the Red Sea, south 
of Suez, in a continued chain to the Ailanitic Gulf; a 

Give the form of the western division ? Position of the mount- 
ains of Sinai ? Of v^hzX do these mountains consist ? Aspect of 
them? Difficulties of traversing them? Prospect from them? 
Describe the northern outline of these mountains ; the chain El-Tih 
and the desert between them ? 



78 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

distance of near one hundred and twenty miles, and 
enclosing in a circular segment, a high sandy desert, 
utterly desolate and barren. 

North of Et-Tih, the whole tract of country extending 
to the Mediterranean, and from the Red Sea to the deep 
valley of the Akaba, is an immense table-land, lying 
high above the level of the adjacent waters, with a slight 
inclination to the north. 

The surface of this elevated plain is overspread with 
a coarse gravel mingled with black flint-stone, inter- 
spersed occasionally with drifting sand ; and only diver- 
sified with occasional ridges and summits of barren 
chalk-hills. In the time of Moses it was a great and 
terrible wilderness ; and fronqL time immemorial it has 
been a waste, howling desert, without rivers, or foun- 
tains, or verdure, to alleviate the horrors of its desolation. 

But we must suppose that this desert was once sup- 
plied, in some measure, both with water and with vege- 
tation. The brethren of Joseph repeatedly traversed it 
from Hebron to Egypt with asses, (Gen. xlii: 26 ; xliii : 
24.) When the country was suffering with extreme 
dearth, Jacob and his sons went down with their Jlocks 
and their herds. (Gen. xlvii: 1.) But no animal save 
the camel is now able to pass over the same route. 

The Israelites, to the number of two millions, with 
their flocks and their herds (Ex. x : 9), inhabited por 
tions of this wilderness for forty years, where now 
they could not subsist a week without drawing supplies 
both of water and of provisions from a great distance. 

Describe the table-land of the desert north of El-Tih ? Face of 
the country, slope, and water-sheds ? Nature of this desert in the 
time of Moses ? Reasons for supposing that it may have been less 
barren than now ? How did the flocks and herds of the Israelites 
subsist in the desert ? 



FROM SUEZ TO MOUNT SINAI. 79 

Others, in view of the sterility of the desert, suppose 
that the flocks and herds of the Israelites were sustained 
in the desert by a continued miracle. 

FROM SUEZ TO MOUNT SINAI. 

Below Suez, the table-land of the desert breaks ab- 
ruptly off towards the Red Sea, into a rugged line of 
mountains, running south- by- east, at the distance of 
eight and ten miles from the shore. Along the interval 
between the brow of these mountains and the shore, 
lay the route of the Israelites. On the eastern shore of 
the Red Sea, at a short distance below Suez, are several 
springs of brackish water called Ayun Mousa, the 
Fountains of Moses, where Moses is supposed to have 
indited his triumphal song. (Ex. xv: 1--22.) 

Hence ''they w^ent out into the wilderness of Shur: 
and went three days in the wilderness and found no 
water;" w^hen they came to Marah, the waters of 
which were so bitter that they could not drink them. 
(Ex. XV : 22, 25.) iVbout forty miles below the Foun- 
tains of Moses is that of Hawarah, whose W' ater is salt, 
and so bitter that even camels refuse, unless very thirsty, 
to drink it. In this fountain we recognise the bitter 
waters of Marah, w^hich were miraculously changed at 
the complaint of the Children of Israel. The barren 
tract between these fountains corresponds with the 
desert of Shur. (Ex. xv : 22.) 

We next find the Israelites at Elim, where w^ere 
several fountains of water, and many palm-trees. (Ex. 

What forms the mountains which run parallel to the eastern 
shore of the Red Sea ? What is their general distance from the 
shore? Fountain of Ayun Mousa ? Wilderness of Shur ? Waters 
of Marah ? Distance from Ayun? Distance of Elim from Marah ? 



80 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

XV : 27.) This station is admitted to be the valley 
Ghurundel, six miles from Hawarah, where is found an 
abundant supply of water, some tillage land, several 
varieties of plants and shrubs, and a few palm-trees. 

From Elim they removed and encamped by the Red 
Sea. (Num. xxxiii : 10.) This station they reached by 
a circuitous route around a spur of the mountains on 
the left, which comes down to the sea, where it termi- 
nates in the lofty summit of Jebel Hummam, ^^extend- 
ing along the coast towards the south, black, desolate, 
and picturesque." 

WILDERNESS OF SIN. 

Near the last station the coast again becomes an ex- 
tensive desert, running far down towards the extremities 
of the peninsula. This desolate region is clearly iden- 
tified as the Wilderness of Sin, where the Israelites are 
next found. (Ex. xvii: 1 ; Num. xxxiii: 11.) Burck- 
hardt describes it '' as a frightful desert, almost wholly 
without vegetation." 

This wilderness is memorable as the place where, in 
answer to their murmurings, they were, for the first time, 
miraculously fed with quails, to appease their lusting 
after the flesh-pots of Egypt. (Ex. xvi.) 

Here, also, they were first fed with manna, that bread 
of heaven, which they continued to eat for forty years, 
until they reached the land of promise and ate of the 
corn of that land. 

DOPHKAH, ALUSH, AND REPHIDIM. 

From this desert, the children of Israel are supposed 
by Dr. Robinson and others to have turned up south- 

What water and vegetation is found there ? The course of the 
Israelites to the next station by the sea ? 

Describe the Wilderness of Sin ? For what is it memorable ? 



DOPHKAH, ALUSH, REPIIIDOr. 81 

east, into the mountainous region of Sinai. Their en- 
trance into this mountainous wilderness was through 
the Wady Feiran, a broad valley which is overspread 
with vegetation, and tamarisk-trees, or occupied with 
gardens and date plantations. 

It is much frequented by the Bedouins for pasturage. 
Somewhere in the range of the route from the Wilder- 
ness of Sin to Rephidim were the stations of Dophkah 
and Alush (Num. xxxiii : 12, 13), but their situation is 
irrecoverably lost. And the same may be said of Re- 
phidim, except that it must have been further in the in- 
terior, at the distance perhaps of a day's journey from 
Mount Sinai. 

Burckhardt supposes that it may have been at the 
extremity of the valley above described, which has now 
assumed the name of Esh-Sheikh ; where it enters by 
a narrow gorge into the high granite cliffs of these cen- 
tral regions. He says : — 

" We had now approached the central summits of 
Mount Sinai, which we had had in view for several days. 
Abrupt cliffs of granite, from six to eight hundred feet 
in height, whose surface is blackened by the sun, sur- 
round the avenues leading to the elevated platform to 
which the name of Sinai is specifically applied. We 
entered these cliffs by a narrow defile about forty feet 
in breadth, with perpendicular granite rocks on both 
sides." 

At Rephidim, somewhere in this vicinity, and in the 
neighbourhood of Sinai, the Israelites encamped for 

Route from the Wilderness of Sin ? What wady or valley is 
found here ? What is known of Rephidim and the other stations 
mentioned in this connexion ? Entrance into the mountains of 
Sinai ? Burckhardt's description ? 

6 



82 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

some time. Here they renewed their murmurings for 
the want of water, and were miraculously supplied from 
the rock in Horeb ; here were the Amalekites defeated ; 
and here Jethro, the father-in-law, or more probably 
perhaps the brother-in-law of Moses, visited him, and, in 
consequence of his advice, judges were appointed to 
assist in the administration of justice. ^Ex. xvi. xvii.) 

MOUNT SINAI. 

The next encampment of the Israelites was at this 
mountain. But how could such an immense caravan 
find a suitable place of encampment within the hidden 
recesses of these mountains, where travellers have found 
nothing but rugged, frowning ^cliffs, and high spindling 
peaks, dark and desolate beyond description, separated 
from each other by an endless labyrinth of deep and 
frightful chasms? To this difficulty the researches of 
Robinson and Smith are supposed to offer a satisfactory 
explanation, which w^e give in their own words. 

At the foot of the pass which leads up to the sacred 
shrine beneath the awful mount, from whose summit 
Jehovah proclaimed his law to the trembling hosts of 
Israel, Dr. Robinson says : ^' We commenced the slow 
and toilsome ascent along the narrow^ defile, about 
south-by-east, between blackened, shattered cliffs of 
granite, some eight hundred feet high, and not more than 
two hundred and fifty yards apart, which every moment 
threatened to send down their ruins on our heads. Nor 
is this at all times an empty threat ; for the whole pass 

"What transpired with the Israelites at this place ? Who was 
Jethro ? What advice did he give to Moses ? How could the Is- 
raelites find space for encampment in the defiles of these mountains ? 
What is Dr. Robinson^s description of this passage ? 



MOUNT SINAI. 83 

is filled with large stones and rocks, the debris of these 
cliffs. 

<' The bottom is a deep and narrow water-course, where 
the wintry torrent sweeps down w^ith fearful violence. 
A path has been made for camels, along shelving rocks, 
partly by removing the topmost blocks, and sometimes 
by laying down large stones side by side, somew^hat in 
the manner of a Swiss mountain-road. But though I 
had crossed the most rugged passes of the Alps, and 
made, from Chamouni, the whole circuit of Mount 
Blanc, I had never found a path so rude and difficult as 
that we were now^ ascending." 

After toiling along for near two hours, our travellers 
continue their narrative : '' Here the interior and loftier 
peaks of the great circle of Sinai began to open upon 
us — black, rugged, desolate summits ; and, as w^e ad- 
vanced, the dark and frowning front of Sinai itself (the 
present Horeb of the monks) began to appear. 

" We were still gradually ascending, and the valley 
gradually opening ; but as yet all was a naked desert. 
Afterwards a few shrubs were sprinkled round about, 
and a small encampment of black tents w^as seen on 
our right, with camels and goats browsing, and a few 
donkeys belonging to the convent. The scenery through 
which we had now passed, reminded me strongly of the 
mountains around the Mer de Glace, in Switzerland. I 
had never seen a spot more wild and desolate. 

" As w^e advanced, the valley still opened wider and 
wider, with a gentle ascent, and became full of shrubs 



WHiat does Dr. Robinson say of the cliffs, and the valleys ? Of 
the rugged ascent of the mount ? Appearance of Horeb ? To what 
does he conapare the scenery? Appearance of the plain which 
opens here? 



84 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

and tufts of herbs, shut in on each side by lofty granite 
ridges, with rugged, shattered peaks, a thousand feet 
high, while the face of Horeb rose directly before us. 
Both my companion and myself involuntarily ex- 
claimed: 'Here is room enough for a large encamp- 
ment!' 

'' Reaching the top of the ascent, or water-shed, 
a fine, broad plain lay before us, sloping down gently 
towards the SSE, enclosed by rugged and venerable 
mountains of dark granite, stern, naked, splintered 
peaks and ridges of indescribable grandeur ; and ter- 
minated, at a distance of more than a mile, by the bold 
and awful front of Horeb, rising perpendicularly in 
frowning majesty, from twelve to fifteen hundred feet 
in height. It was a scene of solemn grandeur, wholly 
unexpected, and such as we had never seen ; and the 
associations which at the moment rushed upon our 
minds, were almost overwhelming." 

They subsequently ascended the frowning summit 
of Horeb, and sketched the scene from that point: 
'' The whole plain, Er-Rahah, lay spread out beneath 
our feet, with the adjacent wadys and mountains; while 
WadyEsh- Sheikh on the right, and the recess on the 
left, both connected with and opening broadly from Er- 
Rahah, presented an area which serves nearly to double 
that of the plain. 

'^ Our conviction was strengthened that here, or on 
some of the adjacent cliffs, was the spot where the Lord 
<> descended in fire,' and proclaimed the law. Here lay 

Solemnity and grandeur of the scene ? Height of Horeb ? View 
from the summit of Horeb ? Where is Er-Rahah ? What its form 
and extent ? Where is it supposed the Lord descended in fire to 
the mount in sight of the people ? 



MOUNT SINAI. 85 

the plain where the whole congregation might be assem- 
bled ; here was the mount that could be approached, if 
not forbidden ; and here the mountain brow, where alone 
the lightnings and the thick cloud would be visible, and 
the thunders and the voice of the trump be heard, when 
the Lord ^ came down in the sight of all the people 
upon Mount Sinai.' 

u We gave ourselves up to the impressions of the awful 
scene ; and read, with a feeling that will never be for- 
gotten, the sublime account of the transaction, and the 
commandments there promulgated, in the original words 
as recorded by the great Hebrew legislator. "*" 

Other travellers have explored a valley on the south- 
ern base of Sinai, which w^as shut from the view of Dr. 
Robinson, in his ascent, by a long ridge of rocks, and 
which has been found, by measurement of KrafTt and 
Strauss, and others, to be even greater than the valley 
of Er-Rahah on the north. 

This, it is supposed by Ritter and others, may have 
been occupied by the Israelites at the giving of the law. 
The locality of this tremendous scene may perhaps be 
better determined by future researches. 

An American artist and scholarf has just given an 
interesting account of this valley, w^hich appears to be 
much more extensive than Er-Rahah, and better fitted 
for the accommodation of the immense camp of Israel. 

What plain have other travellers noticed south of Jebel Mousa ? 
Where, according to Ritter and others, may have been the place of 
encampment and of the giving of the lav^^ ? What American travel- 
ler is mentioned as having given an interesting account of this 
valley ? 

* Biblical Researches, vol. i. pages 129-30, 158. 
t Mr. M. K. Kellog. 



86 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

To reach this station, the Israelites must have con- 
tinued their march much further down the coast than on 
the other supposition, and turned at a bolder angle up 
into the mountains near the modern town of Tun or 
Ton. Dophkah, Alush, and Rephidim, must also, on 
this supposition be transferred to other localities corre- 
sponding with this supposed line of march. 

If there be such a valley at the southern base of Sinai, 
it seems very extraordinary that it should have escaped 
the notice of travellers. It must be visible from the sum- 
mit of Sinai, Jebel Mousa ; but, seen only from that lofty 
summit, and running in an irregular line at the very 
base of the mountain, they must have overlooked it in 
their brief survey of the scenery, so grand, gloomy, and 
peculiar, which there engaged their contemplation. The 
subject, however, is so curious and interesting, that we 
insert in detail the narrative of the American traveller 
to which these remarks refer : — 

'' Having read a letter which appeared in the Literary 
World of Nov. 20th, from Dr. Ritter to Dr. Robinson, 
in w^hich it is said that Laborde, in his ' Commentary ^ 
' has now for the first time established the plain of 
Wady Seba'iyeh at the southern hase of Sinai ;' and 
that this ' furnishes an important point for the elucida- 
tion of the giving of the law^/ I have been induced to 
submit to the consideration of the public, some of the 
notes from a journal which I kept during my travels in 
that region, in the spring of 1844. 

What must have been the course of the Israelites from the Wil- 
derness of Sin to this valley ? Where, on the supposition of a val- 
ley south of Sinaij vi^ere Rephidim, Alush, and Dophkah ? How 
would this valley have escaped the notice of other travellers ? Who 
first established the existence of this valley ? 



MOUNT SINAI. 87 

" Although I have not yet seen the Commentaries of 
Laborde, and therefore cannot judge of their correctness 
in regard to this plain, yet I am happy in being able to 
furnish some testimony as to its existence and extent. 

" Within the last few years, a question has arisen as 
to the existence of a plain in front of Mount Sinai, capa- 
ble of containing the multitude of Israelites who were 
assembled to receive the Commandments. 

^'Dr. Robinson is the first, I believe, who has at- 
tempted to prove that no such plain exists. In his 
* Researches/ he finds a plain at the north-east extremity 
of the mountain, called Er-Rahah^ which he says was 
^the plain where the congregation of Israel were 
assembled, and that the mountain impending over it, the 
present Horeb, was the scene of the awful phenomena 
in w^hich the law was proclaimed.' 

^' He says, he was ' satisfied, after much inquiry, that 
in no other quarter of the peninsula, and certainly not 
around any of the higher peaks, is there a spot corre- 
sponding in any degree, so fully as this, to the historical 
account, and to the circumstances of the case.' 

" Starting upon the hypothesis that there is no other 
plain than the one he describes, he has been obliged to 
give the sacred name of Sinai to one of the peaks which 
overlook this plain, in order that the Israelites might 
witness the awful ceremonies attending the promulgation 
of the law, which took place upon the Holy Mountain. 

" If this hypothesis is founded in truth, then tradition 
is at fault, which has given to another part of this 

Who was the first to transfer the scene of the giving of the law 
to Horeb ? And why ? Does he deny the existence of any other 
plain ? To what summit does tradition ascribe the giving of the 
law ? 



88 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

region the name of Sinai, and a capacious plain beneath 
it ; and we must throw aside all our faith in such tradi- 
tion, and commence investigations w^hich shall elicit the 
whole truth upon the subject. 

" I shall endeavour to prove, in the following paper, 
that tradition has the strongest claims upon our faith, 
and that there is no sufficient reason for disputing its 
correctness in this particular case. As many late tra- 
vellers have been led into error respecting the topogra- 
phy of this district, by adopting, w^ithout investigation, 
the conclusions of Dr. Robinson, I feel it to be a duty 
to lay before you such facts as may be of service to 
those who shall hereafter journey into the wilderness of 
Sinai. 

" On the 6th day of March, 1844, my tw^o companions 
set out from the Convent at Mount Sinai, for the pur- 
pose of ascending the mountain of St. Catherine. I de- 
cUned going wdth them, partly through indisposition, 
and partly because I thought I could spend the day 
more usefully and agreeably in making some sketches in 
the neighbourhood of the convent. 

" After my friends' departure with the guides, I took 
a little Arab boy with me to carry my sketch-book and 
water-bottle, and walked up Wady Shu'eib, until I 
came to the little Mountain of the Cross (JVeja), which 
almost shuts up the passage into Wady Seba'iyeh, and 
where I had, for the first time, a view of the southern 
face of Mount Sinai. Here opened an extended picture 

What claims has tradition in this case upon our confidence ? What 
is the name of the valley south of Sinai? Its situation; its extent; 
its length and breadth ? When was it explored by Mr. Kellog ? 
How was he led to the discovery of it ? What w-as his position 
when the valley opened to his view^ ? ^ 



MOUNT SINAI. 89 

of the mountains lying to the south of the Sinaite range, 
for I was now some three hundred feet above the adja- 
cent valleys. 

" After much difficulty I succeeded in climbing over 
immense masses of granite, to the side of the Mountain 
of the Cross, w^hich I ascended about five hundred feet on 
its south- w^estern face, in order to obtain a good view of 
the peak of Sinai, which I was anxious to sketch. 

" Here, close at my right, arose, almost perpendicu- 
larly, the Holy Mountain ; its shattered pyramidal peak 
towering above me some fourteen hundred feet, of a 
brownish tint, presenting vertical strata of granite, w^hich 
threw off the glittering rays of the morning sun. Cling- 
ing around its base was a range of sharp, upheaving crags, 
from one to two hundred feet in height, which formed an 
almost impassable barrier to the mountain itself from the 
valley adjoining. These crags were separated from the 
mountain by a deep and narrow gorge, yet they must 
be considered as forming the projecting base of Sinai. 

" Directly in front of me was a level valley, stretch- 
ing onward to the south for two or three miles, and en- 
closed on the east, west, and south, by low mountains 
of various altitudes, all much less, however, than that 
of Sinai. 

"This valley passed behind the Mountain of the 
Cross to my left, and out of view, so that I could not 
calculate its northern extent from where I stood. The 



Describe the Mountain of the Cross. What is the height and 
appearance of Sinai from this plain ? By what valley is the base 
of the mountain surrounded ? What rocky rampart forms this deep 
narrow valley ? What is the length of the valley Seba'iyeh ? How 
is it enclosed on the east, west and south ? What obstructed the 
view of it on the north ? 



90 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

whole scene was one of inexpressible grandeur and so- 
lemnity, and I seated myself to transfer some of its 
remarkable features to the pages of my portfolio. 

'^ I remained at work until nearly sunset, when I 
discovered people coming towards me through the dark 
ravine between the mountain of Sinai and the craggy 
spurs which shoot up around its base. I feared they 
might prove to be unfriendly Arabs ; but, as they came 
nearer, I discovered them to be my companions and 
their guides, who were returning from Mount St. Cathe- 
rine. As the shades of evening were approaching, I shut 
up my portfolio, and descending the hill-side, I joined 
my friends, and we returned together to the Convent. 

" After dinner they desired to see what I had done 
during the day, and my sketch-book was opened to them. 
They remarked, on seeing the drawing I had made, that 
as there was no plain on the southern border of the 
mountain, I might as well have left out the one seen in 
the drawing. After my assurance that I had copied 
what was before me, they laughed, and remarked that 
none but a painter's imagination could have seen the 
plain in question, for they had passed entirely around 
the mountain that day, and could assert positively that 
there was no such plain. 

" Here was a difference of opinion certainly, and one 
that I did not relish much, as it might at some future 
time be the means of creating a doubt as to the faithful- 
ness of my Eastern drawings. I begged them, therefore, 
to accompany me the next day to that side of the moun- 
tain, and be convinced of what I told them. They re- 

» 

Have travellers noticed this plain when on the moimtain ? How 
are we to account for the different impressions of travellers re- 
specting this valley ? 



MOUNT SINAI. 91 

marked that all authority was against me, and time was 
too precious to go over the same ground twice. 

" The evening was spent in reading upon the subjects 
which had occupied our time during the day. Among 
other works were the ' Biblical Researches' of the 
learned Dr. Robinson, which had now become almost 
the only hand-book of the East, and deservedly so, on 
account of the extensive information imparted upon the 
topography of the regions treated of; the vast amount 
of historical truths brought together in an instructive 
order ; and the knowledge, now first imparted, concern- 
ing the different nomadic tribes inhabiting the Peninsula 
of Sinai. 

" 1th Jkfarc^.— Spent in Wady Es-Seba'iyeh, or the 
plain before Mount Sinai. Ascended Wady Shueib from 
the convent to the Mountain of the Cross {Jebel JVejaj^ 
and passed the high neck which joins it to Jebel Deir ; 
descending, with great difficulty, a very precipitous 
gorge into Wady Es-Seba'iyeh, we took our course 
along the base of Jebel Deir, until we came to a point 
whence the peak of Sinai was no longer visible, because 
of the intervening point of Jebel Deir ; then striking 
across Seba'iyeh to the right, keeping Sinai in view, we 
stopped to contemplate the scene. Here the plain is 
very wide, and forms one with Wady Sedout, which 
enters it from the south-east at a very acute angle, and 
in the whole of which Sinai is plainly seen. 

" These two wadys make a width of at least the third 
of a mile. The hills rising from the east and south of 

Describe and trace on the map the valley, and its connexion with 
other valleys. Describe Wady Shueib. The Mountain of the Cross 
(Jebel Neja), and also Jebel Deir. At what point does Sinai cease 
to be visible, and why ? Describe Wady Sedout. 



92 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Seba'iyeh, in front of Sinaij are of gentle ascent, upon 
which flocks might feed, and the people stand in full view 
of Sinai. For many miles, perhaps six or more, on the 
eastern border of this plain, are seen many small plains 
high up among the hills, from all of which Sinai is plainly 
visible. Near where we stood a high rocky platform 
of granite arose from the plain, upon which I seated 
myself, and took a sketch of the valley to its junction 
with Wady Esh-Sheikh on the north, where stands Jebel 
Fureia, a very conspicuous and singular mountain. 

"At this point Wady Sheikh turns from its eastern 
course, after leaving Wady Rahah, and runs north 
around Jebel Fureia, where it receives Seba'iyeh from 
the south, and with it forms one level and unbroken 
plain for about twelve miles to the north of the place 
where I was seated. Turning back now to the south, 
we traversed the plain towards the base of Sinai. The 
wady grew gently narrower as we approached Neja, 
whose base projected far into the plain, and whose head 
shuts off the view of Sinai for a distance of about one- 
half the width of the plain at its base. 

"As we passed its foot Sinai again appeared, and we 
measured the plain near the pathway which leads up 
towards Sinai on the southern border of Neja, and which 
appears to be the only entrance to the Holy Mountain. 
The measured width here was 430 feet. Passing on 
345 paces, we arrived at the narrowest part of the plain, 
some few yards narrower than where we had measured it. 

" This may be considered as an entrance-door to the 
plain which lies directly in front of Sinai, which now 

Form and elevation of the hills east ? What pasturage might 
they afford for flocks ? Where is Wady Esh-Sheikh ? Where Jebel 
Fureia ? What is the length and breadth of Wady Seba'iyeh ? 



MOUNT SINAI. 93 

spreads out level, clean, and broad, going on to the south 
with varied widths for about three miles, on gently as- 
cending ground, where it passes between two sloping 
hills and enters another wady which descends beyond, 
from which it is most probable Sinai may yet be clearly 
seen. 

" On the east, this plain of Seba'iyeh is bounded by 
mountains having long, sloping bases, and covered with 
wild thyme and other herbs, affording good tenting- 
ground immediately fronting Sinai, which forms, as it 
were, a grand pyramidal pulpit to the magnificent am- 
phitheatre below. 

" The wddth of the plain immediately in front of Sinai 
is about sixteen hundred feet, but further south the wddth 
is much increased, so that on an average the plain may 
be considered as being nearly one-third of a mile wide, 
and its length, in view of Mount Sinai, between five and 
six miles. The good tenting-ground on the mountain 
sides, mentioned above, would give much more space for 
the multitude on the great occasion for which they were 
assembled. This estimate does not include that part of 
the plain to the north, and Wady Esh-Sheikh, from 
w^hich the peak of Sinai is not visible ; for this space 
would contain three or four times the number of people 
which Seba'iyeh would hold. 

"From Wady Es-Seba'iyeh we crossed over the 
granite spurs, in order to pass around the southern bor- 
der of Sinai into Wady Lejah. These spurs are of suf- 
ficient size to have separate names among the Arabs. 
Around them were generally deep and rugged gorges, 

How is this valley bounded on the east ? Its width in front of 
Sinai ? What its average width, and its length ? Describe the 
granite spurs around the base of Sinai. 



94 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

and ravines, or water-courses, whose sides were formed 
of ledges of granite, nearly perpendicular, of a pink 
colour, and fine texture. There are no gravel-hilh, as 
mentioned by Dr. Robinson, but a series of low granite- 
hills, much broken up, and of different colours, princi- 
pally of a greenish-gray and brown. The plain is 
covered with a fine debris of o-ranite. 

"Whilst crossing over these low hills, my friend point- 
ed out the path between them and Sinai, in the ravine, 
through which he had passed yesterday on his return 
from St. Catherine; and it was seen that no plain would 
be visible from any part of it, owing to the height of the 
spurs which separated the ravine from Seba^iyeh, and 
we concluded that most travellers had been led into false 
views concerning this part of the mountain, from having 
taken the same path, and hence it was that no account 
had been given respecting the plain of Seba'iyeh. This 
ravine, around Sinai, becomes a deep and impassable 
gorge, with perpendicular walls, as it enters Wady 
Lejah, passing through the high n^ck connecting Sinai 
with the mountain on the south. 

"Descending into Lejah, under the rocky precipice of 
Sinai, we found the wady narrow, and choked up with 
huge blocks of granite, which had tumbled from the 
sides of the adjacent mountains. We could now see the 
olive grove of the deserted convent of El Arbain, situ- 
ated in the bottom of the narrow valley. Passing 
through this garden, we found a fine running stream of 
crystal water, of which we partook freely, for our thirst 

Are any gravel-hills observed there ? What prevents the plain 
from being seen v^hen ascending the mountain ? What is the ap- 
pearance of the gorge where it joins Wady Lejah ? What water is 
found in this valley ? 



MOUNT SINAI, 95 

was great. The garden was walled, and well irrigated 
by many small canals, but nothing seemed to flourish 
but the olive. 

" Continuing down the valley amidst loose rocks of 
granite, upon some of which were inscriptions in the 
Sinaite, Greek, and Arabic characters, and enjoying the 
wildness of the scene, and the gloomy grandeur of the 
lofty mountains of naked rocks which almost overhung 
our path, we saw Horeb on our right, and soon entered 
upon the plain before it, called Wady Rahah, After 
taking a view of Horeb, as the sun was setting, we made 
our way to the convent, to pass the night within its 
hospitable walls. Thus was completed a walk around 
the whole mountain of Sinai. 

^* The results of these investigations, together with 
the information afforded by Burckhardt and other tra- 
vellers, have served to convince my own mind that this 
district is every way adapted to the circumstances at- 
tending the encampment of the Israelites, during the 
promulgation of the law upon Mount Sinai. 

" Though other mountains in this vicinity may answer 
as well as that of Jebel Mousa for this great purpose, 
still I cannot see any good reason for taking from this 
mountain that holy character with which tradition has 
invested it for the last fifteen centuries. 

'^ Here let me add a few speculations, illustrating the 
path through which my mind has arrived at these con- 
victions. I will be as brief as possible. 

What was the course of this traveller in going around the whole 
mountain of Sinai ? Would any other mountain answer the exigen- 
cies of the case ? What reasons for believing that Sinai was the 
mount on which the Lord descended in giving his law to man ? 



96 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

" Jebel Mousa is one of the highest and most conspi- 
cuous peaks in the whole granite range, and probably the 
only one surrounded by such large and open plains as 
Seba'iyeh, Esh-Sheikh, and Er-Rahah. It is supplied 
with excellent water ; and its vicinity yields pasturage 
for camels, sheep, &c. ; and in ancient times the neigh- 
bouring valleys towards the Gulf of Akabah were very 
fertile, abounding in date, nebek, and tamarisk trees. 

" Burckhardt describes Wady Kyd, w^hich is two 
days' travel from the convent, as having, a ' small rivu- 
let, tw^o feet across, and six inches deep,' and as being 
^ one of the most noted date valleys of the Sinai Arabs.' 
Indeed, he says, that nearly all the valleys to the south 
and east through w^hich he passed, were fertile, and 
watered, until he came to a ' broad valley, or rather 
plain, called Haszfet el RaSy^ about four hours' travel 
from Sinai, towards Shurm, on the Gulf of Akabah, 
from w^hich he entered Wady Seba'iyeh, at its south- 
eastern extremity. 

'' Now, if we conjecture the Israelites to have entered 
the wilderness of Sinai from the south, that is to say, 
that they came from the neighbourhood of Tur, from 
their last encampment by the Red Sea, and passed 
through Wady Hibran, or some other w^ady, to the 
south of Sinai, until they came into Wady Seba'iyeh, 
we shall find them passing through a fertile country, in 
which there w^as both pasturage and water, until they 
came within one day's march of Sinai, to Rephidim, 

Describe Jebel-Mousa. What is the character of the valleys 
south of Seba'iyeh ? From what quarter must the Israelites have 
approached Mount Sinai, and how left it ? What reasons have we 
for supposing that the Israelites came up to Sinai through valleys 
leading to the coast of Tur ? 



MOUNT SINAI, 97 

where, for the first timey they complain that there was 
no water to drink. 

" May not the broad valley of Haszfet el Ras, which 
we have seen is only four hours' travel fromjginai, be 
the valley of Rephidim ? Burckhardt does not speak of 
finding any water there. The two stations of the Isra- 
elites, between the Dead Sea and Rephidim [Dophkah 
and AlusK)^ have not as yet been identified. May they 
not lie between the great plain around Tur, and Haszfet 
el Ras ? But I will not dwell upon this point. 

" We read in Exodus xix : 2, ^ they were departed 
from Rephidim, and were come to the Desert of Sinai, 
and had pitched in the wilderness ; and there Israel en- 
camped before the mount.' Wady Es-Seba'iyeh is 
before the mount, and w^ould contain the people, whilst 
the neighbouring hill-sides and valleys would supply 
pasturage for their oxen, sheep, goats, &c. ^ Moses 
brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with 
God ; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.' 
V. 17. If Wady Rahah can be considered as the nether 
part of the mount, the people could have been taken 
there from the camp through Wady Sheikh. 

" The Lord said unto Moses, ' thou shalt set bounds 
unto the people around about,' ' whosoever toucheth 
the mount shall be surely put to death.' It has been 
shown above that the bounds around the mount are 
quite natural, and almost impassable. I allude to the 
ravine. 

" ' And the children of Israel stripped themselves of 

Where, according to this supposition, were Rephidim, Alush, and 
Dophkah ? How does the valley described correspond with what 
is said of their pitching in the wilderness, and of their standing at 
the nether part of the mount ? 
7 



98 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

their ornaments by the Mount Horeb.' xxxiii : 6. This 
could have been done in Wady Rahah under the brow 
of Horeb. 

" ' MItees pitched the tabernacle without the camp, 
afar off from it. When Moses w^ent out unto the taber- 
nacle, all the people rose up and stood every man at his 
tent door and looked after Moses, until he was gone into 
the tabernacle/ v. 7. ' All the people saw the cloudy 
pillar stand at the tabernacle door ; and all the people 
rose up, and worshipped, every man in his tent door/ v. 10. 

" The tabernacle could have been thus conspicuously 
placed, afar off from the camp, in that part of Wady Es- 
Seba'iyeh, where it enters Esh-Sheikh, called' TFady.>36oi^ 
Mathee, and here it would have the advantage of leading 
the way before the people into the wilderness, along 
Wady Esh-Sheikh towards the mountains of Et-Tih, on 
the north, the boundary of that ^ great and terrible 
desert,' w^here they wandered for a period of nearly 
forty years. 

" The Lord said to Moses, ^ neither let the flocks nor 
herds feed before that mount.' (Ex. xxxv : 3.) From 
this we learn that there was pasturage hefore the mount, 
which would agree perfectly with the condition of the 
hill-sides bordering the plain of Es-Seba'iyeh in front 
of Mount Sinai. 

" I have supposed the Israelites to have entered this 
wilderness from the south, because this great Wady of 
Seba'iyeh, which forms one with Esh-Sheikh, was the 
only practicable route for the caravans which transported 

Where did Moses pitch the tabernacle ? Where may we suppose 
it to have been ? What reasons may Moses have had for taking the 
route novi^ under contemplation ? What caravan route passes through 
the Wady Seba'iyeh ? 



MOUNT SINAI. 99 

the riches of Arabia across the peninsula to Gaza, Sidon, 
and Tyre ; and we may believe that Moses, knowing, 
as he did, the nature of the country, would carry his 
people through it in the most commodious manner possi- 
ble, and hence would take the usual route from near 
Tur, on the Red Sea, through the central granite region, 
of which Wadys Seba'iyeh and Esh-Sheikh form the 
principal central thoroughfare, until they arrived at the 
great chain of Et-Tih, through which they passed to- 
wards the Promised Land. 

" Upon Dr. Robinson^s theory, they must have entered 
the plain Er-Rahah, through Wady Esh-Sheikh, coming 
from the north. If they did, then they must have turned 
back again, retracing their steps, after receiving the 
commandments, and passed northwards through Wady 
Esh-Sheikh towards the desert of their wanderings. I 
can see no good reason for such a loss of time and la- 
bour, when there was a straight and open path for them 
to continue their march in a direct line towards the 
country w^hich they were afterwards to inhabit.'' . 

The children of Israel left on the fifteenth day of the 
first month of the sacred year, or about the middle of 
April, and reached Sinai on the third month (Ex. xix: 
1), having been apparently just three months on the 
way, and made a journey of about two hundred miles. 
At Sinai they remained during all the transactions re- 
corded in Exodus, from the eighteenth chapter to the 
end, and in Leviticus, and the first nine chapters of 
Numbers. In these transactions they were occupied a 
little less than a year. 

At what point did the Israelites enter the plain, Er-Rahah, accord- 
ing to Dr. Robinson ? What disadvantage would this be to them ? 
When did they reach Mount Sinai ? How long were they on tho 
way ? What was the distance of their route ? 



100 HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

MOUNT HOREB, MOUNT SINAI. 

The mountain from which the law was given is de- 
nominated Horeb in Deuteronomy i : 6 ; iv : 10, 15 ; v : 
2 ; xviii : 16 ; xix : 1 ; in oth^r books of the Pentateuch 
it is called Sinai. 

These names are now applied to two opposite sum- 
mits of an isolated, oblong, and central mountain in the 
midst of this confused group of mountain-heights. It 
is about two miles in length from north to south, and 
about one-third of this distance in width. 

Modern Horeb is the frow^ning, awful cliflT at the 
northern extremity, already described as overhanging 
the valley Er-Rahah. 

Sinai rises in loftier, sterner grandeur, at the southern 
extremity. Its elevation is 7047 Paris feet above the 
level of the sea. A deep, irregular, and narrow defile 
sweeps around the entire base of this oblong mountain, 
w^hich supports the heights of Horeb and Sinai, as if 
the Almighty himself had set bounds around the Holy 
Mount and sanctified it. Even the mountains round 
about, which seem huddled together in wild confusion, 
as if in mute amazement at .the scene when the Lord 
descended in fire upon the mount, «' and the smoke 
thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the 
whole mount quaked greatly" — even these mountains 
are cut off from any immediate communication with 
this Mount of God. 

Mount Sinai is situated above the 28th degree of 

Where, in the Pentateuch, is the mountain from which the law 
was given caUed Horeb ? Where is it called Sinai ? Position of 
the summits which now bear this name ; their height, and the length 
of the ridge ? How is it separated from other mountains around ? 
Latitude of Mount Sinai ? 



MOUNT HOREB. 101 

north latitude, aboutone hundred and twenty miles from 
Suez, and near one hundred from the head of the 
eastern gulf of the Red Sea. 

The Hebrews remained at their station in Horeb, a 
few days more than eleven months. During this time 
their theocracy was fully established ; Jehovah himself 
was constituted their King ; his law was promulgated 
in dreadful solemnity from the mount, and committed 
to them as written by the finger of God ; their govern- 
ment w^as duly organized, their national laws and 
institutions were established, to separate them from all 
other nations as the future depositaries of the oracles of 
God ; the tabernacle was set up for the palace of their 
King, Jehovah ; and the regular service of his court 
' was established. 

In this interval of time they were severely rebuked 
for their defection from their God. and King in the 
worship of the golden calf; the sanctions of the law 
were solemnly repeated ; the people were numbered 
and mustered for war ; the order of encamping, break- 
ing up, and marching was accurately settled ; and the 
whole constitution of the state was completed. 

The twelve tribes in their marches and encampments, 
formed a square, facing the cardinal points, with the 
tabernacle in the centre, surrounded by the tribe of 
Levi, and the carriers and attendants. 

Moses had been a wandering shepherd for forty years 
in this region ; and, on this same mount, had received 

|l Distance from Suez ; from the eastern gulf of the Red Sea ? How 

long did the Israelites remain at Sinai ? What organization was es- 
tablished there ? What rebellion occurred ? How Was it rebuked ? 
Where is the narrative of their exodus resumed ? With what is the 
intervening portion of the Pentateuch occupied ? 



102 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

from Jehovah appearing to him in the burning bush 
(Ex. iii.), his commission for the deliverance of his 
people. He was therefore well prepared, by his intimate 
acquaintance with the country, to conduct the thousands 
of Israel in their perilous march through this terrible 
wilderness. . 

He also took with him, as a guide, his brother-in-law, 
Hobab, who was well acquainted with the situation of 
the fountains, wells, and pastures of that region, and 
might direct the people in the foraging excursions 
which they would have occasion continually to make, 
in order to supply water and provisions for themselves 
and their flocks and herds. (Num. x: 29-32.) The de- 
scendants of Hobab from this time remained among the 
Hebrews. 

After their organization had been fully settled, and 
the rites of their religion established, the children of 
Israel broke up from Horeb and proceeded on their 
way. 

Their marches and encampments in all their subse- 
quent wanderings were directed by Jehovah, their King. 
A cloud in token of his presence covered the tabernacle 
by day, <•' and at even, there was upon the tabernacle 
as it were the appearance of fire until the morning.'' 

So it was always ; the cloud covered it by day, and 
the appearance of fire by night. (Num. ix: 15, 16.) 
The rising of this cloud was the signal for them to ad- 
vance, as this, overhanging the tabernacle, should lead 
the way ; and the settling of the cloud upon the taber- 
nacle was, again, the signal for them to encamp. 

What qualifications had Moses to act as guide through the wilder- 
ness ? Who accompanied and assisted him ? How were the march 
and encampments denoted ? What was their signal for these ? 



WILDERNESS OF PARAN. 103 

On the twentieth day of the second month of the 
second year after their departure, the cloud was taken 
up from off the tabernacle of the testimony, and the 
children of Israel, taking their departure from out the 
Wilderness of Sinai, came by three days' journey into the 
Wilderness of Paran. (Num. x: 11-36.) Burckhardt 
supposes the rocky wilderness of the upper nucleus of 
Sinai, to be the Desert of Sinai^ so often mentioned in 
the wanderings of the Israelites. 

WILDERNESS OF PARAN, MOUNT PARAN. 

This desert is several times mentioned in Scripture. 
Hagar, when Abraham sent her away, wandered first in 
the wilderness of Beer-sheba, and afterwards dwelt 
with Ishmael in the wilderness of Paran. (Gen. xxi : 14.) 
David, after the death of Samuel^ retired into this desert. 
Here, also, the flocks of Nabal, who dwelt in the south- 
ern Carmel, were accustomed to feed. (1 Sam. xxv : 
2-43.) " The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from 
Seir, unto them; he shined forth from Mount Paran." 
(Deut. xxxiii : 2.) '^ The Lord came from Teman, and 
the Holy One from Mount Paran." (Hab. iii: 3.) 

Beer-sheba is well known to have been situated upon 
the borders of the desert at the southern extremity of 
Palestine. Carmel was in the neighbourhood of He- 
bron, lying further south and near the desert, west of 
the southern part of the Dead Sea. Seir, we know, 
was south of the Dead Sea, between that and the east- 

Where did the children of Israel set forward from the Wilderness 
of Sinai ? What wilderness did they next arrive at ? Where did 
Hagar dwell with Ishmael ? What is said of David and Nabal in 
this wilderness ? Where was Maon ? Carmel ? Where Mount 
Seir ? 



104 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

ern gulf of the Red Sea. Mount Paran must be near 
this chain of mountains, and in the desert of Paran. 

All these notices indicate that the whole desert region 
south of Palestine was designated as the Wilderness of 
Paran, extending down to the mountainous regions of 
Sinai. The general course of the Israelites was north- 
east, towards the gulf of the Red Sea w^hich has been so 
often mentioned. 

At first their course from Sinai must have been due 
north, down the Wady Sheikh some twelve miles, 
where, according to Dr. Robinson, was Rephidim, at 
w^hich encampment the Children of Israel, on coming 
here, turned up to the south to go to Sinai. 

From the elevated plains around the base of Sinai to 
this place there is a regular descent, through which 
water might naturally flow from the rock at Horeb. 
Indeed, this valley is the natural outlet of the waters 
from storms and wintry rains, which flow down from 
these central mountain heights. 

The blackened cliffs about this place, at the junction 
of the Wadys Sheikh and Feiran, form the outposts 
of Horeb. And here the Israelites entered upon the 
desert plain which is called the Wilderness of Paran, 
at the border of the great wilderness w^hich bears this 
name. 

TABERAH. 

Moses denominates their first station after three days' 
march by this name, because at this place, their third 

What was included in the W^ilderness of Paran ? What was the 
general course of the Israelites ? At what point did they enter the 
wilderness ? 

What name did Moses give to their first station after their thr^ 
days' march from Paran ? Why ? 



HAZEROTH. 105 

stage from Horeb, the murmurings of the Children of 
Israel at the hardships and fatigues of their march in 
the desert became so strong, that fire, enkindled by the 
indignation of the Lord, broke forth and raged with 
great fury among the tents in the outskirts of the camp. 
The name Taberah, burnings was given as a memorial 
of this chastisement. 

KIBROTH-HATTAAVAH, HAZEROTH. 

Their next station was Kibroth-hattaavah, the graves 
of lust^ where, for " a whole month," they were again 
fed with quails, and multitudes died in consequence of 
their surfeit. (Num. xi : 4-34.) 

These quails were brought by a strong wind from 
the sea, the eastern gulf mentioned above ; and this must 
have been situated near the eastern extremity of the 
mountainous chain El-Tih, and not far from the western 
shore of the gulf. 

It is observable that on this occasion, as on the 
former, in the Wilderness of Sin, the Children of Israel 
were fed by the flight of quails from over the sea. In 
this instance, from over the eastern branch of the Red 
Sea, and in that, from over the western arm of the same 
sea. 

Those who are curious to explain by natural phe- 
nomena the miraculous events of Scripture history, in- 
form us that these birds move in immense flocks, and, 
when wearied by long flights over water, fly so low and 
heavily as to be easily captured. 

Where was their next station ? What took place here ? What 
other instance is recorded of feeding the Children of Israel with 
quails ? From what sea were they brought in each instance ? What 
natural phenomenon is related respecting a similar supply of provi- 
sion by quails from over the sea ? 



106 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

They tell us, from an ancient historian, of a colony at 
Rhinocolura, on the Mediterranean Sea, who saved 
themselves from starvation by making long nets of slit 
reeds and placing them along the shore, to catch the 
quails which came flying over the sea in large flocks. 
In this manner they secured for themselves an ample 
supply of provisions.^ 

But however ingenious such efforts, they are more 
curious than important to a believer in the miracles of 
the Scriptures. If we do not believe the sacred writers, 
we need not believe the miraculous events recorded 
by them. If we believe that God made heaven, earth, 
and sea, and all that is therein, we may believe also 
that he could, as seemed good unto him, divide the 
sea, or call water from the rock, or stay the river in its 
course, or bring quails to feed his people, and satisfy 
them with the bread of heaven. 

The Wady Sheikh, which runs north from Sinai, opens 
at the distance of a few miles into a large valley or 
plain, extending for more than thirty miles east and 
west between the Sinaitic group and El-Tih on the 
north. This plain is called El-Hadharah, correspond- 
ing to Hazeroth of the Scriptures, in some part of w^hich 
must have been the station of the Israelites of this name, 
and probably also Taberah, and Kibroth-hattaavah, in 
which places the Israelites were so severely punished for 
their repinings and rebellion. (Num. xi.) 

Is it necessary or desirable to seek natural causes for what is 
represented in the Scriptures to be miraculous ? What great plain 
was between the Sinaitic group and El-Tih ? What is its Scriptural 
name ? 



* Diod. Sic. i. 5. 



HAZEROTH. 107 

Dr. Wilson supposes the Israelites to have continued 
their course further north, across this plain ; and, through 
a pass in the range El-Tih, to have come out upon the 
plateau of the great desert. His reasons for this sup- 
position we give in his own words : 

" From the first time that I had my attention directed 
to the opinions of Burckhardt and Dr. Robinson, now 
adverted to, I felt great difficulties about the well of 
Hadharah and the Hazeroth of Scripture, which, on 
every attempt which I made to overcome them, became 
only the more formidable. What these are, I beg here 
distinctly to state. 

t^Upon the numbering of the Israelites before Sinai, 
new order was introduced into their camp. They 
pitched by the respective standards of their tribes. 
(Num. ii: 34.) When they 'took their journeys out 
of the Wilderness of Sinai,' ' the cloud rested in the 
Wilderness of Paran;' and 'they first took their jour- 
ney according to the commandment of the Lord by the 
hand of Moses,' regularly marshalled, and following 
the respective standards of their respective tribes. 
(Num.x: 12-18.) 

" ' They departed from the Mount of the Lord three 
days' journey,' still in the order in which they had set 
out. Num. x: 33.) Here they were at Taberah. 
(Num. xi : 3 ; Deut. ix : 22.) 

" They next proceeded to Kibroth-Hattaavah, which 

What, according to Dr. Wilson, was the course of the Israelites 
from this place ? Through what great wilderness ? What, accord- 
ing to Robinson, was Hazeroth ? Where is the well ? What access 
to it ? What, according to Dr. Wilson, was Hazeroth ? Describe 
the plain ? Describe the order of march of the Israelites ? By how 
many marches did they come to Taberah ? 



108 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

was obviously in a plain, and not in a defile ; for upon 
their murmuring for flesh, ' there went forth a wind 
from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let 
them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on 
this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other 
side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits 
(high) upon the face of the earth.' (Num. xi: 31.) 
< And the people journeyed from Kibroth-Hattaavah 
unto Hazeroth, and they abode at Hazeroth.' (Num. 
xi: 35.) 

" It appears from the sacred narrative here referred 
to, that the Israelites must have left Sinai by a route 
which, in the first instance, permitted their orderly 
march and encampment according to their tribes ; and 
every one who will look to the topography of the Sinai- 
tic range, must see that their course must have been 
through the wide avenue of Wady Esh-Sheikh, with 
the mountainous boundaries on each side which we 
have noticed as we have passed along. 

" Coming out of the Sinaitic group, probably near 
their former encampment at Rephidim, they were in 
the ^Wilderness of Paran,' another distinctive district 
of the desert, not unlikely the plain Alwat El-Jerum, 
to the north-east of Wady Sheikh, which is admitted 
on all hands to be a part of the head of the valley of 
Feiran, from which probably the designation of Paran, 
as applied to this part of the desert, was derived. Still 



What evidence is there that this march was over a plain country ? 
What is their next station ? What is the sea from which the quails 
were brought ? What the extent of this supply ? What evidence 
that this was miraculous ? What, according to the above represen- 
tations, must have been the route of the Israelites ? When and 
where did they enter upon the Wilderness of Paran ? 



HAZEROTH. 109 

further advancing, they were in the plain of Hadharah, 
or Hazeroth, in a part of which our tents are now 
pitched. All this seems natural and perfectly con- 
gruous. 

'« If w^e take them, however, to the well of Hadharah, 
by Dr. Robinson's route, we lead them at once from 
a broad valley— where they could march in order — over 
hills and ridges, and narrow valleys, where their ranks 
must have necessarily been broken up. 

'^ We continue them among the irregularities and 
tortuosities of the eastern outposts of the Sinaitic group 
for about twenty miles. We give them an exit from 
these groups, where Jebel Tih runs down upon them 
from the north-west, and we find, for the first time, 
probably, a part of the plain of Hadharah, where an 
encampment could easily be formed by them. We 
take them a stage in advance to the well of Hadharah, 
the path to which is so rugged and difficult, that, ac- 
cording to the accounts of Dr. Robinson's Arabs, their 
camels could not reach the spring. In the neighbour- 
hood of this well, in very confined space, there is a 
regular station of the Israelites. 

" Afterwards they are necessitated — for they cannot 
mount Jebel Tih — to descend upon the Gulf of Aka- 
bah, and to proceed along its narrow shores, rounding 
its headlands jutting into the sea of Ezion-Geber. That 
all this is possible^ I should certainly not venture to deny. 
That a course, apparently more consistent with the 
sacred narrative, can be found for them, at least to the 

What is the difficulty of supposing the Children of Israel to have 
been at the well of Hadharah ? From this well what must have 
been their route ? What apparent necessity exists for their pursuing 
this course ? 



«« 



110 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

valley of Hadharah, or Hazeroth, I have already indi- 
cated. 

" Were I required to admit that the Israelites must 
have proceeded from Sinai to the Gulf of Akabah, by 
the passes leading down from the southern ridge of 
Jebel Tih, I should be disposed to think that they first 
came out from the Sinaitic range, going almost straight 
north, through Wady Sheikh, and then through the out- 
posts of Sinai in that direction ; and that they after- 
wards turned to the right hand, and proceeded eastward 
through the open valleys to these passes. As far as the 
march to the passes is concerned, this supposed route 
presents no apparent difficulty, when viewed in con- 
nexion with the Scripture narrative. 

«^ Other routes to Mount Seir (Deut. i : 2), however, 
occur to us as practicable and suitable, when we advert 
to the extent of the plateau of Hadharah, as seen by us 
in its western parts. The Israelites, leaving Hadharah, 
might have at once surmounted Jebel Tih, either by the 
pass of Mareikhi, or that of Zaranah (called also Za- 
lakah), at the head of Jebel Shakeirah. Ascending 
through either of these passes, they would be in the 
« great and terrible wilderness,' in which the universal 
tradition of Jew^s, Christians, and Mohammedans sup- 
poses them to have wandered. 

^^ Their route by the latter pass, which appears the 
more probable of the two, when its relative position to 
Mount Seir is considered, would carry them along the 
plateau behind the ridge, bounding the Sea of Akabah, 

What, according to Dr. Wilson, was their course after entering 
the Wilderness of Paran near the supposed site of Rephidim ? AVhat 
other practicable routes are there ? What advantages has the route 
assumed by Dr. Wilson ? 



HAZEROTH. Ill 

allow the orderly pitching of their camp, according to 
the Divine directions, free them from many difficulties 
which the narrow coast road presents, and actually 
prove the shortest route either to Ezion-Geber,or to any 
part of Wady Arabah, bounded by Mount Seir, at 
which they might descend from the plateau by any of 
the numerous wadys which lead into tliat long and dis- 
tinctive plain." 

We subjoin in this connexion Dr. Wilson's account 
of his passage over the Tih to the desert beyond :■ — 

" Turning our faces to the west, we had the long 
and winding pass of Mareikhi overhanging us. We 
found it no very easy matter to complete its ascent, 
which occupied a couple of hours, though we kept our 
seats on the camels for a considerable part of the way. 
In the abrupted rocks on each side of our narrow path- 
way, we had a section of the desert laid bare to our 
view, from 1000 to 1500 feet in depth. 

/^ It seemed to us, by its slopes, and precipices, and 
hollows, and caverns, to be a striking illustration, — as 
we often noticed among the ravines of the wilderness, 
— of the text in which the Israelites are said to have 
been led 'through a land of deserts and of 'pits,^ (Jer. 
ii : 6.) It was interesting to us, too, in a scientific 
point of view, as it illustrated the order of the supra- 
position of certain of the systems of rocks forming the 
crust of our globe. We commenced with the variega- 
ted sandstone, passed through the cretaceous system, 
and entered above it on layers of tertiary sand, and 



Describe the pass over the Tih to the desert beyond ? Difficul- 
ties of the ascent ? Appearance of the desert below ? In what 
respects is this a " land of deserts and of pits V^ What is said of its 
geological formation ? 



112 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

gravel, exactly like those of the Egyptian desert be- 
tween Suez and Cairo. 

'^ When we got to the summits above, forming the 
plateau gently sloping to the north, we reckoned our- 
selves about 4500 feet above the level of the sea, a good 
part of the Sinaitic range, and particularly its western 
division near Jebel Serbal^being still visible. Here we 
found, even on the surface, beds of the ostrea diluviana, 
and of coralline, almost as if they had been yesterday 
raised from the bed of the ocean. We pitched our tents 
on the summits of the ridge, about two hours in advance 
of the southern face." 

From this point their course would extend north-east 
across the great and terrible wilderness, either to Kadesh- 
barnea, in the northern part of the Arabah, or by a more 
easterly course to the head of the Ailanitic Gulf, the 
Akabah. 

Their precise route will probably never be determined. 
If, as Dr. Robinson supposes, a fountain in the eastern 
extremity of the plain Hadharah, bearing also this ' 
name, is Hazeroth, then this is decisive as to the whole 
route of the Israelites from Sinai to Kadesh. 

Burckhardt and Robinson suppose that this fountain 
El-Hadharah, which they found at the foot of the Tih, 
at the distance of thirty miles or more from Sinai, and 
forty from the head of the gulf, may be the Hazeroth 
of Scripture, memorable for the envious sedition of 
Miriam and Aaron. (Num. xii.) 

This whole region, from the southern chain of the 

What is the height of the Tih ? Appearance of the desert beyond 
the Tih ? What diluvian remains are found here ? What doubts 
are entertained by Dr. Robinson with regard to this route ? What 
do Burckhardt and Robinson suppose the fountain at the foot of El- 
Tih to be ? 



THE AKABAH THE ARAEAH. 113 

Tih to the shore of the gulf. Is a frightful desert; 
and the passage leads through a tangled net of deep 
and narrow passes between perpendicular walls of 
sand-stone, grunstein or granite, often rising several 
hundred feet in height, and emerging out upon the 
shore by a narrow gorge or pathway. This route would 
seem to be more difficult for the Israelites than that 
proposed by Dr. Wilson, across the desert north of the 
mountains. 

THE AILANITIC GULF, OR THE AKABAH. 

The eastern gulf of the Red Sea is narrow^er than 
the western; but like that, it runs up through the midst 
of a region totally desolate. The mountains are here 
higher and more picturesque than those that skirt the 
Gulf of Suez ; the valley between them is narrower, 
and the desert plains along the shores are less extensive. 

The shores of the gulf present an undulating out- 
line, approaching and receding so as to vary considera- 
bly the width of the waters, which may have an average 
breadth of eight or ten miles. The mountains along the 
western coast are mostly precipitous cliffs of granite, per- 
haps eight hundred feet in height, and generally a mile 
from the shore. The entire length of this bay, called 
the Ailanitic Gulf, or the Akabah, is about eighty miles. 

THE ARABAH. 

The remarkable chasm which forms the bed of the 
Akabah continues in a direct line from the head waters 

What is said of the route from Tih to the gulf ? 
Describe the Ailanitic Gulf. Where is it situated, and what is 
its extent ? Height of the mountains on either side ? 
What is the Arabah, and where ? 
8 



114 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of the gulf, more than a hundred miles to the Dead 
Sea. 

The whole valley of the Jordan, indeed, is only a 
continuation of the same depression. The bed of the 
Dead Sea and of the Sea of Galilee are only still 
deeper depressions in this extraordinary valley, which 
extends north in a direct line a distance of not less than 
three hundred and forty miles from the Red Sea, with 
a variable width from five to ten or fifteen miles, com- 
prising the eastern gulf of that sea, the Arabah, the 
Dead Sea, and the whole course of the valley of the 
Jordan. 

This rent in the earth's surface, is in geology called 
a crevasse^ and is the most remarkable of this class of 
phenomena of which we have any knowledge. It opens 
a wide field of speculation respecting the stupendous 
convulsions and disruptions to which the surface of the 
earth has been subject in the early and unknown ages 
of its existence. From below the Dead Sea northward 
this valley takes the name of the Ghor, a name which 
it has appropriately received from the Arabic language, 
in which it means a valley between two ranges of 
mountains. 

The western side of the great valley of the Arabah 
is limited by a lofty line of cliflfs, forming an abutment 
of the great western desert, which lies at the height 
of twelve or fifteen hundred feet above the bed of this 
valley. 

What is the valley of the Jordan a continuation of? What are 
the beds of the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee ? What is the 
length and width of this valley ? What is it styled in geology ? 
What is its Arabic name, and the meaning of the term ? What is 
the western limit of it ? 



KADESH-BARNEA. 115 

On the east, the mountains of Edom rise a thousand 
feet above the opposite bluffs on the west, and raise 
the plateau of the great eastern desert to a similar 
elevation above that of the western. 

The bed of this valley is a sandy desert plain, five or 
six miles in width. The northern part of it slopes dis- 
tinctly to the north towards the Dead Sea, so as to forbid 
the supposition that the waters of Jordan could ever 
have flowed through this, beyond the Dead Sea, into the 
eastern gulf of the Red Sea, as many have supposed. 

It is a curious fact that this immense valley, stretch- 
ing from sea to sea, deep, dreary, and desolate, and 
embracing at both extremities a vast body of water, 
was totally unknown to modern geographers and tra- 
vellers from Europe, for some years within the present 
century. 

It was, however, the scene of some of the most inter- 
esting incidents in the exodus of the Israelites. It was 
the field of their encampment for eight-and-thirty years 
during their wanderings in the desert, and became the 
grave of that rebellious generation whose carcasses fell 
in the wilderness. 

KADESH-BARNEA. 

This is the next station of the Israelites, which they 
reached apparently some time in June of the second 
year after their departure from Egypt, and not many 
days after their departure from Horeb. (Num. xii : 16 ; 
xiii : 26 ; Deut. i : 2.) 

What its eastern limit ? Length and breadth of this valley ? Which 
way does it slope ? Can the waters of the Jordan or the Dead Sea 
ever have flowed through it ? For what is it memorable in the 
exodus of the Israelites? 

Where was Kadesh-barnea ? t 



116 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

They were now on the borders of the land of their 
search. Spies were sent to examine and report respect- 
ing the country, and the best means of entering into the 
possession of it. They traversed the whole length of 
the country to Rehob and Hamath, at the northern ex- 
tremity of the Land of Canaan. Forty days afterwards, 
this delegation returned, with flattering accounts of the 
soil, and of the country, accompanied 'vyith dishearten- 
ing representations of the warlike character of the inha- 
bitants, of their giant stature, and the great strength of 
their cities. (Num. xiii.) 

The region around Kadesh is here denominated the 
Wilderness of Paran. At a later period, on their second 
return to Kadesh, it takes the name of the Desert of 
Zin. 

The position of this place is, by common consent, 
assigned to the northern part of the Arabah, at some 
distance south of the Dead Sea. 

But the exact site of Kadesh cannot perhaps be de- 
fined. Dr. Robinson conjectures that it may have been 
at Ain el Weibah, a fountain at the mouth of a deep 
valley that leads up through the mountains to the high 
western desert south of Hebron. 

This course, which Dr. Robinson himself traversed, 
offered a natural and convenient route for the spies, by 
which to enter Canaan. And through this, or some 
neighbouring pass, they doubtless went up to view the 
land. 

What spies were sent out from there ? What was their report of 
the land ? What of the people ? What is its site, according to 
Robinson? Where, according to others? Has the exact position 
of Kadesh ever been defined ? What was the route of the spies to 
Canaan ? 



KADESH-BARNEA. 117 

The waters of this fountain are sweeter and more 
abundant than any now known in the Arabah. They 
are in the line of the great thoroughfare of ancient com- 
merce, and near the foot of the principal pass to the 
great desert and the southern borders of the hill country 
of Judea above Kadesh-barnea. 

Sufah is said to be in form identical with Zephath, 
and Arad is still found a few miles north, " a barren- 
looking eminence rising above the country around," 
bearing the name and designating the site of this an- 
cient city of the Canaanites. It seems, therefore, but 
just to accord to Dr. Robinson the honour of having 
identified this interesting locality. Von Raumer, and 
others, place Kadesh higher up, some miles nearer the 
Dead Sea. 

The people murmured at the report of the spies, and 
in consequence were destined to die in the wilderness, 
in which they were to wander for forty years. 

The pass up which the Israelites, after this sentence 
from Jehovah, rashly ascended to fight with the Amale- 
kites and Canaanites (Num. xiv: 40-45), is extremely 
steep and difficult. The remains of an ancient road, 
formed of steps hewn in the rocks, are perceptible in 
many places, with ruins of a fortification, at the foot 
and at the summit. The pathway is in a zigzag direc- 
tion, and much worn. 

Here, says Dr. Durbin, '« We were in the great high- 
way of ancient commerce between the south and the 

What is said of the fountain ? Where and what was Sufah ? Arad ? 
Where, according to Van Raumer and others, was Kadesh ? How 
was the report of the spies received by the Children of Israel ? What 
judgment was inflicted in consequence? What pass did the Chil- 
dren of Israel ascend to war with the Amalekites ? Give a descrip- 
tion of this pass. 



118 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

north. We were climbing up the side of the mountain 
down which the Amorites had chased Israel and de- 
stroyed them, even unto Hormah. (Deut. i : 44.) 

«' Having gained the summit, the first great plateau or 
steppe, being the south country of Judea, expanded 
upon a level with it, formed of low hills, rolling ridges, 
and fine valleys, sprinkled over with grass, wild flowers, 
and shrubs. We were in the Promised Land, and be- 
fore us lay the pasture- grounds of Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob, upon which they had tented, and over which 
their flocks had roamed." 

From Kadesh-Barnea, the people now turned at the 
command of God, and took their journey into the wilder- 
ness by the eastern gulf of the Red Sea. (Deut. i : 40 ; 
ii: 1.) But of their subsequent wanderings, through 
the long period of thirty- eight years, we have no know- 
ledge. The sacred historian passes over this portion of 
their history in perfect silence, save that the eighteen 
stations between Hazeroth and Kadesh, in Num. xxxiii: 
18-36, were visited in this interval; but nothing is 
known of the location of any of them. 

The Israelites, like the modern Bedouins, doubtless 
spent this time in roving up and dow^n the Arabah, and 
over the vast desert of Paran, between Sinai and Pales- 
tine, according as they could find pasturage and water. 

RETURN TO KADESH. 

In the first month, April, they again returned to 
Kadesh, which they had left, in the third ox fourth 
month^ almost thirty-eight years before. Here Miriam 

What is known of the wanderings of the Israelites for thirty-eight 
years after leaving Kadesh? Where and how did they spend 
this time ? 



MOUNT HOR. 119 

now dies ; the people murmur for water ; Moses and 
Aaron bring water from the rocks ; but, in doing it, sin 
against God, and receive sentence of death without 
seeing that good land beyond Jordan, so long the object 
of their desire ; a passage is demanded through the land 
of Edom, and is refused. The children of Israel then 
journey from Kadesh to Mount Hor or Mosera (Deut. 
x: 6), where Aaron dies. (Num. xx. and xxxiii: 37, 38.) 
While in the vicinity of Mount Hor, the Israelites 
gained a signal victory over the Canaanites, by whom 
they had been repulsed on their attempt to ascend up 
into Palestine after their murmurs at the report of the 
spies. Arad was overthrown, and the cities of the 
Canaanites were laid waste as far as to Hormah, for- 
merly called Zephath. 

MOUNT HOR. 

This is a high rocky peak in the mountains of Edom, 
east of the Arabah, and situated midway between the 
Dead Sea and Akabah. It rises, in lone majesty, 
above the surrounding summits, and overlooks a bound- 
less prospect of craggy cliffs, gloomy ravines, and lofty, 
barren deserts. 

The grandeur and sublimity of the scene from the 
summit of Mount Hor, is forcibly sketched by Dr. Wil- 
son in the foUow^ing paragraphs. 

«^ After the greatness and peril of the effort which we 
had been compelled to make, we should, in ordinary 

What incidents occurred at Kadesh on their second return ? What 
judgment was pronounced on Moses and Aaron at this place ? What 
was their sin ? What victory did the Israelites gain here ? Over 
what people ? ^ 

Where is Mount Hor ? What is said of the scenery from it ? 



120 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

circumstances, have been elated with the success which 
we had experienced ; but the wild sublimity, and 
grandeur, and terror of the new and wonderful scene 
around and underneath us, overawed our souls. 

*' We were seated on the very throne, as it appeared to 
us, of desolation itself. Its own metropolis of broken, 
and shattered, and frowning heights — ruin piled upon 
ruin, and dark and devouring depth added to depth — 
lay on our right hand and on our left. 

^' To the rising sun. Mount Seir, the pride and glory 
of Edom, and the terror of its adversaries, lay before 
us — smitten in its length and breadth by the hand of 
the Almighty stretched out against it — barren and most 
desolate, w^ith its daughter, the ^ city of the rock,' 
overthrown and prostrate at its feet. To the west, we 
had the great and terrible wilderness, with its deserts, 
and pits, and droughts, spread out before us, without 
any limit but its own vastness, and pronounced by God 
himself to be the very « shadow of death.' (Jer. ii : 6.)" 

Here Moses took Aaron and Eleazar, and went up 
into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation, 
where these venerable pilgrims took of each other their 
last farewell, '' and Aaron died there in the top of the 
mount." (Num. xx: 28.) A tomb has been erected 
to his memory on the summit, which has often been 
visited and described by modern travellers. 

From Mount Hor, the children of Israel passed along 
the Arabah, south to Ezion-Geber, at the head of the 



Give Dr. Wilson's description of Mount Hor ? For what is it 
celebrated in Scripture history ? Manner of Aaron's death? Tomb 
of Aaron, what? Course of the Children of Israel from Mount 
Hor? 



EZION-GEBER, 121 

eastern or Ailanltic gulf, which is several times denomi- 
nated the Red Sea. (Deut. i : 40 ; Num. xxi : 4.) 

Elath and Ezion-Geber were both situated at the 
head of this gulf. The latter afterwards became famous 
as the port where Solomon, and after him Jehoshaphat, 
built fleets to carry on a commerce with Ophir. (Deut. 
ii: 8; 1 Kings ix: 26; 2 Chron. viii: 17, 18.) 

Here they turned eastward, up the pass that leads to 
the high plain of the great eastern desert of Arabia. 

At this place a large defile comes down steeply from 
the north-east through the mountains, forming the main 
passage out of the great valley to this desert. The ascent 
of the Israelites was, doubtless, through this pass, when 
they departed from the Red Sea, and turned north to 
'' compass Edom," and to pass on to Moab, and to the 
Jordan. 

It was at this point in their wanderings, that " the 
people was much discouraged because of the way ;" 
and they were bitten by fiery serpents. (Num. xxi : 
4-10; Deut. ii: 8.) 

Burckhardt informs us, that this place is still infested 
by poisonous serpents, which are greatly feared by the 
inhabitants. 

Their course now lay along the border of the eastern 
desert, back of Mount Seir, the Mountains of Edom. 

The Edomites, who had refused the Children of Israel 
a passage through their land from Kadesh, now suffered 
them to pass unmolested along their borders on the east, 

Where were Ezion-Geber and Elath ? For what are they fanaous ? 
What is the eastern gulf called? Course of the Israelites from 
Ezion-Geber? Describe the pass ? What judgment befell the Israel- 
ites here? What serpents are still found here? How were the 
Children of Israel now treated by the Edomites ? 



122 HISTOmCAL GEOGRAPHY. 

and even supplied them with provisions for their march. 
(Deut. ii: 3-6.) 

Nothing is knov^n of the stations of the Israelites in 
this route, until they arrived at the brook Zared, where 
they ended their pilgrimage of forty years in the desert. 

ZAREDj AND THE LAND OF MOAB. 

Zared is a small stream which comes down from 
the desert through the mountains, into the southern ex- 
tremity of the Dead Sea. North of this river, and east 
of the Dead Sea, lay the land of Moab, through which 
they were next to pass. 

The Moabites, once a powerful people east of Jordan 
and the Dead Sea, had been driven south by the Amo- 
rites from the plains of Moab (Num. xxii : 1 ; xxxiii : 48), 
lying along the eastern shore of the sea and of Jordan ; 
and were at this time confined within narrow limits 
between the streams Zared and Arnon. (Num. xxi: 13, 
26 ; Judges xi : 18.) They seem to have been too feeble 
to offer resistance to the progress of the Israelites ; but 
they succeeded, in connexion with the Midianites, in 
enticing, by their wiles, the Children of Israel into 
grievous idolatry and sin. (Num. xxv.) 

SmON OF HESHBON. 

The Israelites next encounter a formidable foe in 
Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon. 
The Amorites were at this time a powerful tribe, who 
had extended their conquests over the Ammonites, 
whose territories extended from the river Arnon, north- 
Route of the Israelites ? Give the situation of Moab ? The 
plains of Moab ? Why did they not oppose the Israelites in passing 
through their country ? What evil did they bring upon the Israel- 
ites ? Who were the next foes of the Israelites ? 



OG OF BASHAN. 123 

ward along the shores of the Dead Sea, and up the 
valley, east of Jordan, to the river Jabbok. Against this 
people, Moses waged a war of extermination. (Num. 
xxi : 2, seq. ; Deut. ii : 26, seq.) 

Heshbon afterwards became a levitical city of Reuben, 
though sometimes assigned also to Gad. (Num. xxxii : 
37; Josh, xxi : 39.) 

A few broken pillars, several large cisterns and wells, 
together with extensive ruins, still mark the situation of 
Heshbon, twenty-one miles east of the mouth of the. Jor- 
dan. These ruins overspread a high hill, commanding 
a wild and desolate scenery on every side : — on the north, 
the mountains of Gilead ; on the west, the valley of Jor- 
dan, and mountains of Palestine beyond ; and on the east, 
the vast Desert of Arabia, stretching away towards the 
Euphrates. 

OG OF BASHAN. 

The next conquest of the Israelites was over Og, 
king of Bashan, who ruled over the territory east of the 
Sea of Galilee, and the north-eastern portion of the valley 
of the Jordan. This expedition, which required a march 
of some sixty miles north, from Heshbon, resulted in 
the death of the king of Bashan, the capture of his 
cities, and the overthrow of the kingdom. On their 
return from this conquest, they removed and took up 
their final station at Beth-peor, in the plains of Moab, 
east of Jordan, and over against Jericho. (Deut. iv : 
46 ; Josh, xiii : 20.) 

The Moabites, against whom the Children of Israel 

Where was Heshbon ? What its present condition and appear- 
ance ? What is the prospect and scenery around it ? 

What was the next conquest of the Children of Israel ? What 
were its results ? Where was Bashan ? What was their next station ? 



124 HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

had no hostile intentions, discouraged at the catastrophe 
of the king of the Amorites, and of Bashan, formed an 
alliance with the Midianites against Israel; and called 
Balaam from the land of their common ancestry, whence 
Abraham came, and where Jacob dwelt so long, to 
curse the people whom God had so signally blessed. 
(Num. xxii. xxiii. xxiv.) 

Failing in their fruitless endeavours to prevail by 
enchantment, they had recourse to other wiles, in 
which they were more successful. At the advice of 
Balaam, they seduced the Israelites into impurity and 
idolatry. The consequences were appalling to all par- 
ties. Twenty-four thousand of the Israelites were 
smitten with a plague, and died. The kings of Midian 
and of Moab, were vanquished; their cities were de- 
stroyed, and the people and their wicked advisers slain. 
(Num. XXV ; xxxi: 1-25 ; Deut. xxiii : 3-6.) 

DEATH OF MOSES. 

Under the guidance of the God of Israel, Moses had 
at length brought their long pilgrimage to a happy issue. 
The perils and privations of the wilderness were all 
passed. Every formidable foe had disappeared. The 
land of which the Lord had so often spoken in promise, 
and towards which the aged leader of Israel had been 
journeying so long, now lay in full view before him, 
beyond Jordan. 



Who invited Balaam to curse Israel ? Whence did he come ? 
What allurements did the people, at his suggestion, practise upon 
the Israelites ? What was the consequence of this defection ? What 
befell the kings of Midian and Moab, and their cities? What was 
the end of Balaam ? 

Why did Moses desire to see the promised land ? 



DEATH OF MOSES. 125 

Nothing was more natural than that he should 
earnestly desire to pass over, and see it before he died. 
« I pray thee let me go over and see the good land that 
is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon." 
(Deut. iii : 23-26.) This cherished desire, however, he 
submissively yields in accordance with the decree of 
God, and spends his remaining days in preparing to 
leave his people. He prays for the appointment of a fit 
successor to lead them out and bring them in, " that 
the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which 
have no shepherd." (Num. xxvii: 16, 17.) 

He delivers all those affecting and importunate ex- 
hortations contained in Deuteronomy ; he recapitulates 
to the generation that had sprung up around him in the 
wilderness, the dealings of God towards himself and 
their fathers; he rehearses the commandments of God, 
with the blessing and the curse that should follow; he 
causes the people to renew their covenant with God, and 
urges them to obedience by every pathetic and solemn 
motive, enforced by his own dying testimony of the 
faithfulness of God. 

Notwithstanding his advanced age of one hundred 
and twenty years, ^'his eye was not dim, nor his natu- 
ral strength abated," but the day had come when he 
must die, according to the stern decree of God, before 
the people should pass over to possess the land. The 
self-same day that he finished his exhortations, he took 
an affecting farewell of his people, passing through the 
tribes and pronouncing upon each a solemn benediction. 



. Why was he refused ? What was his sin ? How did he receive 
the refusal ? What was his prayer for his people ? What is the 
book of Deuteronomy ? Object of Moses in writing it ? Moses* 
vigorous age ? Describe his farewell to his people ? 



126 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Then he exclaims, in conclusion ; " There is none like 
unto the God of Jeshurun — Happy art thou, Israel : 
who is like thee^ people saved by the Lord!" (Deut. 
xxxii ; xxxiii.) 

In this triumphant spirit he went up from the plains 
of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, 
opposite Jericho, and died there, according to the word 
of the Lord, B. C. 1451, There is some difficulty in 
harmonizing the several passages in which the names 
of Abarim, Pisgah, and Nebo occur. (Num. xxi : 11- 
13; Deut xxxii: 49; xxxiv: 1; Num. xxxiii: 44-47; 
Num. xxiii: 14-24.) Abarim is supposed to be the 
chain of mountains running north and south, east of the 
Dead Sea ; Pisgah is some height in this chain, or in 
the northern part of it; and Nebo, the summit of Pisgah. 

Travellers, however, have not noticed any remarka- 
ble mountain height east of Jericho, but a line of 
mountain ridge, without remarkable peaks or summits. 

This mountain ridge, as seen in the distance, presents 
the appearance of a horizontal line, drawn by a trem- 
bling hand, along the eastern sky. The heights of 
Pisgah and Nebo will probably never be identified. 

The Israelites had neither an opportunity of going up 
to Mount Hor, where Aaron died, nor of visiting after- 
wards the tomb of their illustrious high-priest, lest 
their veneration for the man should degenerate into dis- 
affection to God ; and, for the same reason, God him- 
self buried Moses " in a valley over against Beth-peor, 
and no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day." 

Circumstances of Moses' death? Where and when did he die ? 
What burial did he receive ? What are Abarim, Pisgah, and Nebo ? 
Is any remarkable summit seen there ? What is the appearance of 
the mountains at a distance ? What end was answered by with- 
drawing the people from the death and burial of Moses and Aaron ? 



SETTLEMENT OF CANAAN. 127 

CHAPTER VI. 
SETTLEMENT IN CANAAN UNDER JOSHUA. 

This land, the promised possession of the Children 
of Israel, into which they are about to enter, is known 
by different names, of which the most prominent is 
Canaan (Gen. xi : 31 ; xii : 5), derived from the origi- 
nal settler, the fourth son of Ham. (Gen. x: 15-19.) 
It was afterwards known as Israel, the Land of Israel, 
and the Land of the Hebrews. (Isa. xix : 24 ; 1 Sam. 
xiii : 19 ; 2 Chron. xii : 1 ; Gen. xl : 15.) 

After the revolt of the ten tribes, it was sometimes 
denominated Israel, and sometimes Judah, according 
as the government of one or the other prevailed, giving 
name to the whole country. Besides these names, it 
is known as Jehovah's Land, the Holy Land, the Pro- 
mised Land, Judea, &c. 

Palestine, signifying the land of the wanderer^ was 
originally the name of the land of the Philistines. (Ex. 
XV : 14 ; Isa. xiv : 29.) But Philo and Josephus use it 
to designate the country of the Jews ; and from them it 
became a common appellation of the country by Greeks 
and Romans, Jews, Christians, and Mahommedans. 
These appellations relate chiefly to that country which 
lay between the river Jordan and the Mediterranean 
Sea. 

This region of country, so inconsiderable in extent, 
and yet so famous in the history of the world, is situ- 
ated between the thirty-first and thirty-third degrees 

What period is comprehended in this chapter ? What are the dif- 
ferent nanaes of the Land of Promise ? By whom was it first set- 
tled ? Meaning of Palestine ? Whence is the name derived ? Situ- 
ation of the country ? Latitude and Longitude ? 



128 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of north latitude, and the thirty-fourth and thirty-sixth 
of east longitude. Its boundaries, though varying 
considerably at different times, were as follows ; on the 
west, the Mediterranean Sea ; on the north, the Moun- 
tains of Lebanon ; on the east, the great Syrian Desert, 
and on the south the peninsular Desert of Sinai, the 
Desert El-Tih. 

The Land of Canaan as given by Moses (Gen. x : 19) 
was an extended triangle, having Zidon on the Medi- 
terranean for its apex, and its base extending from. 
Gaza eastward to the valley of the Akabah, near Kadesh- 
barnea, and including the lost cities of the plain south 
of the Dead Sea. 

The other boundaries given by Moses (Num. xxxiv: 
2-12), and by Joshua (Josh, xiii : 15-31 ; and xv : xxxi), 
are not easily identified. Its south and western bounda- 
ries were as above, the desert and the sea. 

From Zidon it ran eastward to some lofty summit of 
Lebanon, here denominated Mount Hor^ then north be- 
tween the tw^o mountains of Lebanon and Anti-Leba- 
non, in the valley of Cosle-Syria to the land of Hamath, 
w^here modern travellers have identified the site of 
Riblah and of Ain, (2 Kings, xxiii : 33 ; Num. xxxiv : 

11.) 

From thence it passed across Anti-Lebanon, down 
east of Lebanon, by Damascus, and then south through 
the valley of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to the pa- 
rallel of Kadesh-barnea, some twenty miles south of 
this sea ; then westward to the south-eastern angle of 
the Mediterranean, below Gaza, at the mouth of a small 

Boundaries north, east, south, and west of Palestine ? Form of 
the triangle ? What is said of the boundaries given by Moses and 
Joshua ? What were its boundaries on the south, west, east, and 
north ? 



CANAAN. 129 

stream, El-Arish, supposed to be the river of Egypt. 
(Num. xxxiv: 5.) 

The extreme length from north-east to south-west 
was, perhaps, one hundred and eighty miles. The 
width on the north scarcely exceeded twenty miles ; 
on the south, it was eighty or ninety miles. The ave- 
rage width of the country is variously estimated from 
forty-five to sixty miles. 

In extent, it is hardly as large as the state of Massa- 
chusetts, and was about equal to that covered by the 
counties which border upon both sides of the Hudson 
river from New York to Albany. 

Compared with the vast dimensions of the earth, it 
is but an inconsiderable point in comparison with other 
countries, and is in itself as uninviting as it is inconsi- 
derable. It is intersected only by small brooks and a 
single river, not navigable in any part of its course. 
Only fishing-boats float upon one of its lakes. Its coast 
presents an inhospitable shore, w^ithout safe anchorage 
or harbours. 

The face of the country is covered with barren hills, 
with only here and there a fruitful valley intervening. 
In its most flourishing periods it was inhabited only by 
a few millions of people, and has for centuries been 
degraded and almost depopulated by tyranny and op- 
pression. 

Nevertheless, in the wide world there is not a coun- 
try so attractive as this, alike to the learned and the 
ignorant, and which so well rewards the trouble of a 



Length ? Breadth ? Extent of territory compared with other 
states V Face of the country ? Rivers and lakes ? Natural disad- 
vantages ? Extent of its population? Local interest and associa- 
tions ? 

9 



130 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

careful study. To it, pious pilgrims, and travellers 
thirsting for knowledge, eagerly direct their steps ; and 
they who have wandered through every region of the 
globe, and seen all its wonders, instantly feel them- 
selves peculiarly and irresistibly attracted by this. 

" I have seen," says Chateaubriand, ^' the great 
rivers of America, with the pleasure which nature and 
solitude inspire. I have visited the Tiber with enthu- 
siasm, and have examined with similar interest the 
Euroias and the Cephisus ; but I cannot tell what I 
experienced on seeing the Jordan. 

<' Not only did this river recall to me a famous anti- 
quity, and one of the fairest names which the most 
beautiful poetry has intrusted to the memory of man, 
but its streams presented me with the scene of the 
miracles of my religion. 

<^ Judea is the only country of the earth, which recalls 
to the traveller the recollection of things human, and 
things divine, and which, by this blending, causes to 
spring up in the inmost soul, thoughts and feelings 
which no other land can inspire." 

The country allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, 
and the half tribe of Manasseh, lay east of Jordan and 
the Dead Sea, from the river Arnon which empties into 
the Dead Sea, to Mount Hermon, and extending inde- 
finitely eastward into the Desert of Arabia. 

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. 

The desert on the southern border of Palestine rises 
in the hill country of Judea, into a rugged mountainous 

Reflections on visiting Palestine ? Interest in it compared with 
other parts of the world ? What country was allotted to Reuben 
and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh ? 



EASTERN DESERT. 131 

chain, which extends north through the middle of the 
land to the region of Galilee, west of the Lake of 
Tiberias. 

This central chain of mountains presents an uneven 
outline of summits, ranging from one to two thousand 
feet in height. These heights are separated by deep 
ravines winding around their bases, and intersecting 
the principal range in many places on either side with 
water-courses, which fall on the one hand into the val- 
ley of the Jordan, and on the other into the Medi- 
terranean. 

EASTERN DESERT. 

Between this central ridge and the valley of the Jor- 
dan, there is a frightful desert, from fifteen to twenty 
miles in width, and one hundred miles in length. This 
vast desert is composed of naked limestone hills, sepa- 
rated from each other by deep, winding valleys, and 
narrow gullies covered with gravel, and rounded water- 
worn stones. 

The southern portion especially of this waste, howl- 
ing wilderness, is rent and torn in every direction by 
jagged, perpendicular ravines, which open to the tra- 
veller frightful gorges along the eastern border of the 
desert, bounded by high, precipitous walls, as the 
gloomy gateway leading into the wild and desolate 
scenery within. 

^^ With the exception of a few" olives and pomegran- 
ates around Jericho, a small village in the Jordan valley, 

Describe the central chain of mountains. Valleys intersecting ? 
How inhabited ? 

What desert lies east of the central chain of mountains ? Of 
what is it composed ? What is said of the face of the country in 
the southern part of this desert ? 



132 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

and a few patches of green grass and shrubs scattered 
here and there throughout the tract and along the west- 
ern shore of the Dead Sea, there is scarcely a tree or 
shrub or blade of grass in all this district. It would 
seem as though the curse which overwhelmed the Cities 
of the Plain was still burning over its arid and scathed 
surface." 

THE PLAIN OF THE COAST. 

The central ridge of mountains on the west slopes 
irregularly down to a plain at unequal distances from 
the coast, forming an extended and narrow tract of 
land between the mouDtains and the sea. The surface 
of this plain is for the most part level, but sometimes 
undulating. 

In some places this tract is interrupted by promon- 
tories and rising ground running off from the moun- 
tains, but generally the whole coast of Palestine may 
be described as an extensive plain of various breadth. 
Sometimes it expands to considerable width, at others 
it contracts into narrow valleys. 

On the south it spreads out into a broad plain, com- 
prising the whole land of the Philistines, and the west- 
ern portion of Judea. This section of country was 
sometimes called The Plain ^ in distinction from the hill 
country of Judea. At the north the Plain of the Coast 
terminates in an apex formed by the Mountains of Le- 
banon jutting out to the sea. 

The soil, with some exceptions, particularly in the 

What is said of the absence of vegetation on the western shore 
of the Dead Sea ? What peculiarities are observed here ? 

What plain lies to the w^est of the central ridge of mountains ? 
What is its appearance ? What distinctive appellation had this 
plain ? How does it terminate on the north ? 



PLAIN OF ESDRAELON. 133 

northern part of the plain, is exceedingly fertile ; and 
in the season of vegetation is overspread with the 
richest verdure. This is particularly true of the plain 
of Saron, or Sharon, between Csesarea and Joppa. 

This charming valley, so celebrated in the songs of 
the poets and prophets of Judah, now lies neglected, 
save that its verdant knolls are occasionally interspersed 
with a few small Arab houses built of stone. 

The climate all along the coast, compared with the 
more elevated parts of the country, is rather unhealthy 
and very warm. 

PLAIN OF ESDRAELON. 

The central chain of mountains on the north is inter- 
rupted just south of the parallel of the lower extremity 
of the Sea of Galilee by the great plain of Esdraelon, 
which lies in the form of a triangle, having its apex 
near the Mediterranean north of Carmel, and through 
which the river Kishon discharges its waters into the 
sea. 

From this apex it spreads out east-south-east into a 
deep and fertile valley, having a broad irregular base 
on the east, formed by the mountains of Gilboa, Her- 
mon, and Tabor, between which mountains it sends off 
three narrow branches to the great valley of the Jordan. 
This plain is about twenty-four miles long, and ten or 
twelve in breadth. 

This plain, in the Scriptures, bears also the name of 
the valley of Jezreel (Josh, xvii : 16 ; Judges vi : 33 ; 

What is said of its fertility ? What of its present state ? What 
of the climate ? 

Where is the plain of Esdraelon situated? What river flows 
through it ? What are its boundaries ? What name does this plain 
bear in the Scriptures ? 



134 HISTOKICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Hosea i : 5), and the plain of Megiddo. (2 Chron xxxv : 
22 ; Zech. xii : 11.) No portion of the whole country 
perhaps, with the exception of the city of Jerusalem, is 
so rich in historical incident as this celebrated valley. 
Here Deborah and Barak discomfited Sisera and his 
hosts. (Judges iv: 12-24.) Here Gideon besieged the 
Midianites and Amalekites. (Judges vi. vii.) Here, 
near the mountains of Gilboa, Saul fought his last battle 
with the Philistines. (1 Sam. xxxi.) Benhadad, the Sy- 
rian king, was defeated here by Ahab. (1 Kings xx.) 
And here again Josiah, king of Judah, was routed and 
put to death by the Egyptian king. (2 Kings xxiii : 29 ; 
2 Chron. xxxv: 22.) 

This plain indeed for more than three thousand years 
has been the battle-ground of successive armies. ^^ The 
Assyrian and the Persian, Jews and Gentiles, Crusaders 
and Saracens, Egyptians, Turks, Arabs, and Franks 
have poured out their blood on this plain. Even Bona- 
parte achieved here one of his signal victories, and again 
retired in disgraceful flight from Syria, over this ^ great 
battle-ground of nations.' " 

North of this, the country is broken and mountainous, 
from whence spring the mountains of Lebanon, which, 
rising to the height of 8000 and 10,000 feet, with sum- 
mits crowned with snow, soon divide into two ranges 
separated by a narrow valley, and running north-north- 
east, far beyond the limits of Palestine. 

What is said of its historical character ? What has this plain 
been always celebrated for ? What great battles were fought here ? 
By what nations ? What is said of Deborah and Barak ? Gideon ? 
Saul ? Benhadad ? Josiah ? Bonaparte ? What appellation has 
this plain received ? What mountains lie north of it ? What is 
their height ? 



THE RIVER JORDAN. 135 

THE RIVER JORDAN. 

This river has its origin among the mountains thirty 
or forty miles north of the Sea of Galilee. The original 
source is a large fountain just above Hasbeiya, twenty 
miles above Banias or Caesarea Philippi, and the ancient 
idolatrous city of Dan, where again are large fountains, 
which have usually been regarded as the head waters 
of the Jordan. 

The streams from these latter fountains soon unite 
and form a small river, which, after running a short 
distance further, unites with the Hasbany. 

The several sources of the Jordan have been recently 
explored by the Rev. Mr. Thompson, an American 
missionary, from w^hom w^e have the first authentic 
account of these interesting localities. His description 
of the fountain near Hasbeiya is as follows : — 

'' The fountain lies nearly north-west from the town, 
and boils up from the bottom of a shallow pool, some 
eight or ten rods in circumference. The water is im- 
mediately turned, by a strong stone dam, into a wide 
mill-race. 

^^ This is undoubtedly the most distant fountain, and 
therefore the true source of the Jordan. It at once, 
even in this dry season, forms a considerable stream. 
It meanders for the first three miles through a narrow^, 
but very lovely and highly cultivated valley. Its mar- 
gin is protected and adorned with the green fringe and 

Where does the river Jordan rise ? At what distance from the 
Sea of Galilee 1 Give the original source of the river ? Foun- 
tains near Caesarea Philippi, and the ancient city of Dan ? What 
river unites with the streams from these fountains ? Describe the 
fountain near Hasbeiya ? 



136 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

dense shade of the sycamore, button, and willow-trees, 
while innumerable fish sport in its cool and crystal 
bosom. 

" It then sinks rapidly down a constantly deepening 
gorge of dark basalt for about six miles, when it reaches 
the level of the great volcanic plain extending to the 
marsh above the Huleh. Thus far the direction is 
nearly south ; but it now bears a little w^estward, and, 
in eight or ten miles, falls into the marsh about midway 
between the eastern and western mountains. Pursuing 
a southern direction through the middle of the marsh 
for about ten miles, it enters the Lake Huleh not far 
from its north-west corner, having been immensely en- 
larged by the w^aters from the great fountains of Banias, 
Tell El-Kady, El-Mellahah, Derakit or Belat, and innu- 
merable other springs. 

" The distance from the fountain of Hasbany to the 
lake cannot be less than twenty-five miles, and nearly 
in a straight direction. The Huleh may be eight miles 
long ; and the river, after it issues from the lake, pre- 
serves the same southerly course, until it falls into the 
Sea of Tiberias. The great fountain of Hasbany, there- 
fore, has an indisputable title to stand at the head of 
the springs and fountains and lakes of this very celebra- 
ted and most sacred river.'' 

The second source of the Jordan is the fountain at 
Tell El-Kady, sixteen or eighteen miles south of the 
fountain of Hasbany. This is at the head of the great 
marsh north of the Huleh, two or three miles west of 

Course of the Jordan to the Lake Huleh ? What tributaries does 
it receive before reaching Huleh ? Distance from the fountain of 
Hasbany to Lake Huleh ? What course does the river pursue after 
leaving the lake ? Give the second source of the Jordan ? 



THE RIVER JORDAN. 137 

Banias or Paneas, the ancient city of Csesarea Pliilippi. 
The Tell itself marks the site of the more ancient city 
of Dan, recognised as the northern limit of Palestine, in 
the proverbial expression " from Dan to Beer-sheba ;" 
and yet more notorious as the principal seat of the 
idolatrous worship of the Jews. 

" The Tell (or hill) is elevated about forty or fifty 
feet, and its figure is circular or rather oval, being long- 
est from east to west. One part of it is covered with 
oak-trees, and another part with thick brush- wood and 
briars. It is evidently an extinct crater, about half a 
mile in circumference. 

" On the south-western side, the wall of this crater 
has been partly carried away by the action of the great 
fountain, which gushes out all at once a beautiful river 
of delicious water, several times larger than the stream 
at Banias. 

" The fountain in reality first appears in the centre 
of the crater. The great body of water, however, 
glides underneath the lava boulders, and rushes out at 
the bottom of the Tell on the west. But a considerable 
stream rises to the surface within the crater, and is con- 
ducted over its south-western margin, and drives a 
couple of flouring-mills, which are overshadowed by 
some magnificent oak-trees, and almost buried beneath 
the luxuriant vegetation of the place. 

" The two streams unite below the mills, forming a 
river forty or fifty feet wide, which rushes very rapidly 
down into the marsh of the Huleh. There were a 

What is the distance of this fountain from the first ? Describe 
this fountain. Volcanic hill from which it issues ? The quality 
of the waters ? The size of the stream formed by them, and its 
course ? 



138 HISTOHICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

multitude of turtles sunning themselves on the rocks 
around. 

" The miller, with whom I happened to be acquainted, 
pointed out to me a clump of trees, about three miles 
to the south-west, w^here, he assured me, the stream 
from Banias unites with this from the Tell. This junc- 
ture is in the marsh, a short distance to the north of a 
huge mound, very similar to the Tell El-Kady, and 
which, in all probability, is also an extinct crater. 

" My informant had often been there, and I under- 
stood him to say, that the river, after the junction, flowed 
along on the north of the mound until it fell into the 
Hasbany, which I have before mentioned as the main 
stream of the Jordan. I thought also that I could trace 
the course w^hich he pointed out, through the tall reeds 
of the marsh, down to the point where these two main 
streams come together.'^ 

The fountain at Banias is nearly as large as this at 
Tell El-Kady, and gushes out in a full stream from the 
base of a mountain in the midst of the ruins^of Ceesa- 
rea Philippi. 

The western borders of Lake Huleh and the great 
marsh above it are skirted by a high ridge of mountains, 
from the base of which spring several large fountains, 
which discharge their waters into the lake and the river 
above as additional contributions to the Jordan. 

What stream unites with the stream from the Tell El-Kady? 
What is the principal tributary of the Jordan ? Describe the Has- 
bany. Describe the fountain of Banias. What is the western 
boundary of the Lake Huleh ? What springs flow from the base 
of this mountain ? 



LAKE HULEH. 139 

LAKE HULEH— THE WATERS OF MEROM. 

The lake itself into which these waters are collected, 
is of a triangular or funnel shape, five or six miles 
broad at its base, and tapers down to an apex at its out- 
let, at a distance of six or eight miles from the northern 
base. 

. The modern name of this collection of waters is the 
Lake Huleh; in the Scriptures it is known as the 
Waters of Merom. At the outlet of this lake the stream 
assumes the name of the River Jordan. 

We subjoin our traveller's graphic description of 
these waters, and of the great marsh above them, which, 
according to his estimate, is not less than eight or ten 
miles square. 

" As the lake narrows towards the outlet, the plain 
on the west widens, forming a beautiful and very fertile 
champaign called Ard El-Khait. The lake itself is also 
called El-Khait by the Arabs. The water is clear and 
sweet, and the shore muddy where we visited it. But 
a little further south, as the Arabs informed us, it is 
abrupt and stony ; and such was its appearance. 

" Its surface is, in many places, covered with a marsh 
plant, having very broad leaves. On its bosom were 
sporting a variety of water fowl. By our estimate the 
lake may be about seven miles long, and its greatest 
width six. But it very rapidly narrows on the western 
side towards the outlet of the Jordan. 

" On the north, the lake and the marsh blend and 

Size of Lake Huleh ? Situation ? Form ? Distance from the 
Sea of Tiberias? What is its Scriptural name? What is the 
character of the water ? How is the surface of the lake covered ? 
What is the width of Lake Huleh ? 



140 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAI^HY. 



intermingle ; but on all the other sides, the Huleh is as 
well defined as any other lake. The land is in fact 
ploughed quite down to the edge of the water.'' ^ ^ * 

" During the dry season of the year the Arabs pasture 
their cattle on the northern part of the marsh ; and 
appear to penetrate as far down as the great mound 
already mentioned. Below this it is wholly an impass- 
able swamp. 

"I asked an Arab, if I could not reach the lake 
through the marsh. He regarded me with surprise for 
some time, as if to ascertain whether I was in earnest, 
and then, lifting his hand, he swore by the Almighty 
the Great, that not even a wild boar could get through. 
This is probably correct. 

" The whole taken together is the largest marsh I 
have seen. It is perfectly level, and covered with flags 
and reeds and rushes. Flocks almost innumerable of 
white sheep and black goats, each with its shepherd 
before and dogs behind, are seen from early dawn till 
evening, sauntering lazily along the eastern, northern, 
and western shores of the marsh. Droves of camels, 
and herds of cows and buffaloes also enliven every part 
of the plain ; whilst low ranges of tents here and there 
stretch their black curtains along the reedy marsh, and 
associate what is every-day and common-place, with 
the ancient and the patriarchal.' 



55 



SEA OF GALILEE. 

About ten miles south of this, the Jordan empties 



How far down is the great marsh passable ? What flocks and 
herds graze upon its shores ? What is the appearance and probable 
character of the great mound in the middle of the marsh ? 

Where is the Sea of Galilee situated ? 



THE RIVER JORDAN. 141 

into the Sea of Galilee, known as the Sea of Tiberias 
and the Lake of Gennesaret. This is surrounded by 
high rocky shores which, on the east especially, rise 
several hundred feet above the lake. The lake itself is 
some twelve miles in length, and half that distance in 
width. 

THE JORDAN BELOW THE SEA OF GALILEE 

From this sea the general course of the river is south, 
by many meanderings, a distance of near sixty miles to 
the Dead Sea. Through this course it receives few 
tributaries. It rolls on its rapid tide of turbid waters, 
seventy-five or one hundred and fifty feet in width, and 
eight or ten in depth. At certain seasons of the year, 
it is, however, said to be fordable in some places. It 
is supposed to discharge about 6,500,000 tons of water 
daily into the sea. 

The river Jordan has within the last year been ex- 
plored by Lieutenant Lynch, of the United States navy, 
who traversed the river in metallic sail-boats, prepared 
under the direction of our government for this expedi- 
tion, the particular object of which was to explore 
scientifically the Dead Sea. 

He was the first on record to explore the depths of 
that mysterious lake, or even to traverse the waters of 
the river Jordan through all its wonderful sinuosities 
and frightful rapids. 

From his report it appears that the river in its flow 

Different appellations of the Sea of Galilee? Character of its 
shores and of the surrounding country ? Its length and breadth ? 

Length of the Jordan to the Dead Sea ? Distance in a direct 
line ? Breadth of the stream ? Windings and rapids of the river ? 
Amount of water discharged by it daily ? By whom has^ it been 
recently explored ? 



142 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea makes a de- 
scent of one thousand feet; and, though confined within 
a straight and narrow plain between the two seas, it so 
enfolds its channel, by short and frequent windings, as 
to run the course of two hundred miles to make the 
distance of sixty in a direct line. 

The following is a brief report, so far as it relates to 
the Jordan, of this novel and interesting expedition : — ■ 

" On the last of March, the Supply landed the party 
at Kaiffa under Mount Carmel, and proceeded to exe- 
cute her orders in the Mediterranean. Two American 
travellers, viz : Henry Bellow and Dr. H. J. Anderson, 
joined the party about this time. 

'^ All hands were now set to work in making the ne- 
cessary arrangements for their departure into the inte- 
rior. They met difficulties at every turn ; at last they 
found out that all proceeded from the rapacious and 
unprincipled Seid Bey, the Governor, who was endeav- 
ouring, by creating difficulties, to extort money. As 
soon as this discovery was made. Lieutenant Lynch 
refused to have anything more to do with him, and 
proceeded in his own way. 

'« Seemingly insurmountable difficulties presented 
themselves. The boats had to be transported to the 
Sea of Galilee over mountain gorges and heights, which 
nothing larger than the sure-footed horses of the country 
had ever passed before. But the sailor resources of the 
party, supported by zeal in the noble enterprise, were 
sufficient to overcome them all. 

By whom was the survey of the Jordan made ? Who accompanied 
and assisted him ? What difficulties did the party encounter at the 
outset ? In what manner were their boats transported to the Sea of 
Galilee ? 



THE RIVER JORDAN. 143 

" About noon of the third day, the party halted nine 
miles from Tiberias. Their tent was pitched on a 
mountain side, with Nazareth on the right, Cana to the 
north, Mount Tabor to the south-east ; spread beneath 
them w^as the plain on which the bloody battle between 
the French and the English w^as fought, and three 
hours in advance was the Sea of Galilee, with its beau- 
tiful blue waters dancing in the sunbeams. Emblem- 
atic of its Master, it alone, of all things around them, 
remained the same. Just as the Apostles saw it when 
our Saviour said to it, ^ Peace, be still,' this little band 
of rovers now beheld it. 

«' After having surmounted incredible difficulties, still 
greater ones awaited them in this nine miles of distance. 
The boats had to be left in the mountains, while the 
exhausted party struggled forward to get water and to 
refresh themselves. The next day all hands returned 
to the boats. They had to be lowered down precipices 
with ropes. But at this work Jack Tar was perfectly 
au fait, 

" Finally, at two P. M., Saturday, April the 8th, 
Lieutenant Lynch had the satisfaction of reopening his 
despatch to announce the pleasing intelligence : ' The 
Two Fannies, each with the American ensign flying, 
are now afloat upon the Sea of Galilee.' 

" The natives took the bright copper of the Fanny 
Mason to be gold, and looked upon her as an exponent 
of the greatness and wealth of the United States. ^They 
were friendly, and offered the party no interruption in 
their progress. 

Where did the party encamp on the third day of their exploration ? 
Near what mountain ? Near what great battle-ground ? When did 
they reach the Sea of Galilee ? What took place there ? How 
were they treated by the natives ? 



144 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

" Here Lieutenant Lynch purchased for twenty-one 
dollars and a quarter the only boat on the lake, to assist 
in the transportation down the Jordan. That lake 
abounds now, as it did of old, with excellent fish and 
wild fowl. But that at this day there should be only 
one boat on that sea, and that used not for fishing, but 
for bringing wood across, and valued no higher than at 
twenty-one dollars and a quarter, may be taken as a 
sign that no ' fishers of men' are to be found there now. 

"With this little wooden boat, the Two Fannies and 
the river Jordan for the rest of the way, it was thought 
the difficulties of the route were at an end. But, to the 
consternation of the party, it was found that the difficul- 
ties were but just commencing. 

" The course of the Jordan was found to be interrupt- 
ed by frequent and most fearful rapids. But the party 
to a man felt now that their own honour, the reputation 
of the navy, and the credit of their country, were all at 
stake upon their efforts. To a man they gave their 
energetic leader the most hearty co-operation. ^ Some- 
times placing our sole trust in Providence, w^e had,' says 
he, ' to plunge with headlong velocity down appalling 
descents.' So great were the difficulties, that in two 
days they accomplished but twelve miles. 

" On the third day they were compelled from her 
shattered condition to abandon the Galilee boat, and to 
trust entirely to the Two Fannies. 

" May the 18th, the party arrived at Massaraa, a 



With what does the lake abound ? What boats were found on the 
lake ? For what purpose used ? Purchase of boat, what ? Diffi- 
culties ? Fearful rapids of the Jordan ? How long were the party 
in traversing the Jordan ? 



THE RIVER JORDAN. 145 

place on the river consecrated by tradition for the pas- 
sage of the Israelites and the baptism of the Redeemer ; 
it is nine miles from Jericho, where the pilgrims cross. 

'' The passage is dangerous, and Lieutenant Lynch 
tarried here for the purpose of lending them assistance 
should accident befall and assistance be required. The 
two graceful little Fannies, with colours flying, were an- 
chored on the other side, ready to succour and to help. 

" Early in the morning the pilgrims began to arrive, 
and by five o'clock there w^ere several thousand already 
on the bank. 

" The great secret of the depression between Lake 
Tiberias and the Dead Sea, is solved, in the opinion of 
Lieutenant Lynch, by the tortuous course of the Jordan. 
In a distance of about sixty miles that river winds along 
through a course of about two hundred miles. Within 
that distance he and his party plunged down no less 
than twenty-seven threatening rapids, besides many 
others of less descent. 

" The difference of level between the Sea of Galilee 
and the Dead Sea has been stated at over a thousand 
feet. But it has been urged by some that this could not 
be so, else the Jordan in its run of sixty miles would be 
a continuous cataract. 

" The Mohawk, it was thought, was among the 
rivers of the greatest fall in the world, and it averages 
only four or five feet to the mile. But it is now known 
that the Sacramento of CaUfornia has a fall of 2000 feet 
in twenty miles, or an average of one hundred feet to 

When did the party reach Massaraa ? What is it celebrated for ? 
Passage of the Jordan by pilgrims ? Great depression between Lake 
Tiberias and the Dead Sea, how accounted for ? Difference of level 
between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea ? 
10 



146 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

the mile. With Lieutenant Lynches discovery and ex- 
planation as to the length of the Jordan, it is necessary 
to give it an average fall of only about six feet in each 
mile to account for the difference of level between its 
source and mouth. 

^' ' A few weeks earlier or later/ says he, ^ and the pas- 
sage would have been impracticable. We are the first 
who have accomplished the entire descent. The small 
English boat last year (Lieutenant Molyneux's dingey) 
was taken partly on a camel, and the officer made the 
journey by land. His notes were unfortunately taken in 
cipher, and by his death are, I am told, lost to the world.' 

" Leaving Massaraa, Lieutenant Lynch took the lead 
in the Fanny Mason, followed by Passed Midshipman 
Aulick in the Fanny Skinner, while Lieutenant Dale, 
with his friendly Bedouins, and a few others, accom- 
panied the baggage and stores by land, for it was neces- 
sary to carry provisions along. After separating in the 
morning, the two parties saw no more of each other 
until they met at night. 

" With an hour's pull the two boats stopped to fill 
their gum elastic water-breakers. This accomplished, 
the party resumed their oars, and were soon led to ex- 
pect the close proximity of the Dead Sea, from a foetid 
odour — but this was traced to two streamlets strongly 
impregnated with sulphur. The Dead Sea, however, 
soon burst upon their view, into which the little boats 
bounded with a north-west gale. 

" The water of the river was sweet to within a few 
hundred yards of its mouth.'' 

Contrast of this fall with the Sacramento and Mohawk ? Who 
was the first to accomplish the entire descent of the Jordan from the 
Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea ? 



THE DEAD SEA. 147 

THE DEAD SEA. 

The Dead Sea is about forty miles long, and from six 
to eight miles wide. A broad peninsula projects from 
the eastern shore on the south, and contracts the breadth 
of the sea to within two miles. South of this, the 
water is very shallow, so that in midsummer, when, in 
consequence of evaporation, the body of the lake falls 
from twelve to fifteen feet, this end is left a marsh. 

The whole valley of the Jordan, or the Ghor, is a 
remarkable depression, many feet below the level of the 
Caspian or Mediterranean Sea, and lined on the west 
by steep and often precipitous hills of limestone, from 
800 to 1400 feet high ; and on the east by similar cliffs, 
400 to 800 feet higher. 

In the basin of the Dead Sea, this valley reaches its 
lowest level. This sea is 1882 feet below that of the 
Mediterranean, and 1410 below the level of the Red 
Sea. 

The sea has no outlet ; all its waters received from 
the Jordan and other tributaries must escape by evapo- 
ration. It lies lower than the bed of the deep valley of 
the Arabah, which formerly was supposed to have been 
a continuation of the channel of the Jordan to the Red 
Sea, previous to the destruction of the Cities of the 
Plain, 1898 B. C. 

Dr. Robinson has clearly shown that the waters south 

Length and breadth of the Dead Sea ? Peninsular projection ? 
Appearance in midsummer ? Appearance and height of the shores 
on the west and on the east ? Height of the mountains of the Ghor 
generally on the west and on the east ? Tributaries of the Jordan 
and the Dead Sea? Evidence that the Jordan did not flow into the 
eastern gulf of the Red Sea before the destruction of Sodom ? 



148 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of the Dead Sea for some distance flow northward into 
it. This fact shows conclusively that the sea occupied 
its present bed previous to the destruction of Sodom 
and Gomorrah, unless indeed the surface of this whole 
region of country has been changed by volcanic action, 
either in connexion w^ith that event, or at some subse- 
quent period. The volcanic character of this country is 
well known ; and the supposition of such a change by 
the agency of internal fires is perhaps not improbable. 

The shores of this mysterious and gloomy lake are 
formed on the east by perpendicular cliffs, rising into 
ragged splintered points, forming an irregular breast- 
work, sometimes receding a little from the water's edge 
and then again jutting out into the sea ; and varying 
in height from 1600 to 2800 feet. The western shore 
presents much the same stern and forbidding aspect, 
but preserves a general outline some 400 feet lower. 

Embedded deep in this awful chasm, under a burn- 
ing sun reflected from beetling heights on either side, 
this sea becomes a vast cauldron, from which the eva- 
poration is so great in summer as to render the waters 
intensely saline. There is also an infusion of other 
ingredients, which renders the water bitter and nauseous 
to the taste. No living thing inhabits these waters, and 
never, but in two instances, are they known to have 
been navigated by man. 

Costigan, the Irish traveller, in 1835, after an expo- 
sure of eight days upon the water, died in a vain attempt 
to explore this sea. 

How do the waters of the Dead Sea escape ? What is the supply 
of the Jordan and the consequent evaporation ? Evidence of great 
evaporation ? Extreme heat ? Saltness and nauseous character of 
its waters ? Does it contain animal life ? What traveller lost his 
life here ? 



THE DEAD SEA. 149 

No deadly miasma, however, arises from it, as was 
once supposed. The water is of a dull green colour, 
highly transparent, and so dense that one floats easily 
on its surface without effort, as if reclining on a couch. 

We cannot forbear subjoining the lively account 
which Mr. Stephens gives of his experience on this 
point : — 

^' From my own experience, I can almost corroborate 
the most extravagant accounts of the ancients. I know, 
in reference to my own specific gravity, that in the 
Atlantic or Mediterranean I cannot float without some 
little movement of the hands ; and even then my body is 
almost totally submerged ; but here, when I threw my- 
self upon my back, my body w^as half out of water. It 
was an exertion even for my lank Arabs to keep them- 
selves under. 

" When I struck out in swimming, it was exceedingly 
awkward ; for my legs were constantly rising to the sur- 
face, and even above the w^ater. I could have lain there 
and read wath perfect ease. In fact, I could have slept, 
and it would have been a much easier bed than the 
bushes at Jericho. 

" It was ludicrous to see one of the horses. As soon 
as his body touched the water he was afloat, and turned 
over on his side ; he struggled with all his force to pre- 
serve his equilibrium ; but the moment he stopped moving 
he turned over on his side again, and almost on his back, 
kicking his feet out of water, and snorting with terror. 



What is said of the miasma supposed to arise from the Dead Sea ? 
Colour of the water ? Its density ? What traveller particularly- 
noticed this ? Relate some of the experiments he made. Buoyancy 
of a horse in the water ? Difficulty of preserving his equilibrium 
and of swimming in it ? 



150 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

" The worst of my bath was, after it was over, my 
skin was covered with a thick, glutinous substance, 
which it required another ablution to get rid of; and 
after I had wiped myself dry, my body burnt and smarted 
as if I had been turned round before a roasting fire. 
My face and ears were incrusted with salt ; my hairs 
stood out, ^ each particular hair on end ;' and my eyes 
were irritated and inflamed, so that I felt the effects of 
it for several days. In spite of all this, however, re- 
vived and refreshed by my bath, I mounted my horse a 
new man. 

*' Modern science has solved all the mystery about 
this water. It has been satisfactorily analyzed, and its 
specific gravity ascertained to be 1.211, a degree of 
density unknown in any other, the specific gravity of 
fresh water being 1.000 ; and it has been found to hold 
in solution the following proportions of salt to one hun- 
dred grains of water — 



(< 



Muriate of Lime, ". . . 


3-920 Grains. 


Muriate of Magnesia, . . 


. 10-246 '' 


Muriate of Soda, . . , 


. 10-360 ** 


Sulphate of Lime, . . . 


. , 0054 '* 




24-580 *' 



" Except the ruined city of Petra, I never felt so un- 
willing to leave any place. I was unsatisfied. I had 
a longing desire to explore every part of that unknown 
water ; to spend days upon its surface ; to coast along 
its shores ; to sound its mysterious depths ; and search 
for the ruins of the guilty cities.'^ 

What inconvenience did Mr. Stephens experience from bathing in 
the Dead Sea ? Effect upon the skin ? the hair ? the eyes ? Give 
the specific gravity of the water. Give the result of its analy- 
zation ? 



THE DEAD SEA. 151 

The desire to explore this unknown sea, so ardently- 
felt by Mr. Stephens, has within the last year been 
happily realized by an officer in the American navy. 

It is a curious fact, that at the same time such an 
expedition w^as planned by two scientific gentlemen 
and skilful seamen — one, Lieutenant Molyneux, of the 
British navy ; the other, Lieutenant Lynch, in the United 
States service. 

The disastrous and fatal issue of the one and the 
successful result of the other, are given below, from 
the Southern Literary Messenger, for September 1848 : 

"The plans of these two officers for approaching and 
exploring that sheet of water were remarkably similar. 
Neither knew that the thoughts of the other were in that 
direction at all. But, that two navy officers of different 
services, and in parts of the world far remote, should 
each, without the knowledge of the other, be engaged 
with the same original idea, is one of those curious co- 
incidences of mental sympathy which is sometimes 
observed to take place among men of science. The 
coincidence is as striking as the case of Le Verrier and 
Adams with the new planet. 

" On the 20th of August, 1847, Lieutenant Molyneux, 
of H. M. S. Spartan, was landed at Acre with a few 
seamen. Hiring guides, camels, and horses, he started 
early the next morning with the ship's dingey — a very 
small boat — for the Sea of Galilee, and on the 23d he 
was embarked on its blue waters. 

" The natives manifested great reluctance to his de- 

What British officer attempted to explore the Dead Sea ? With 
what success ? What coincidence is mentioned in this connexion ? 
When did Lieutenant Molyneux commence his expedition ? When 
did he arrive at the Sea of Galilee ? 



152 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

scending the Jordan. But by a show of arms, with 
threats to shoot the Sheiks who annoyed him on the 
way, he made good his descent, though it was in part 
accomplished by land. 

" The 3d of September found him fairly embarked on 
the Dead Sea. The greatest depth which he found is 
said to be 1350 feet. At noon on the 5th, the party 
returned to their tent, on the shore, completely done up. 
Every thing and body in the tent was covered with an 
offensive, shiny substance from the water. The iron 
was corroded, and looked as if covered with coal tar. 

" Having disembarked, the dingey was again mounted 
on the backs of camels, and the party proceeded with 
it to Jerusalem. Lieutenant Molyneux returned to his 
ship by way of Jaffa, and died soon after getting on 
board. 

'' The news of his melancholy fate could not, when 
it reached them, fail to excite painful emotions in the 
minds of Lieutenant Lynch and his party. But, in 
happy ignorance of the event, he and they were in Ame- 
rica, busy with their preparations. The ' Supply' was 
fitting at New York as a store-ship for the Mediterra- 
nean squadron. Lieutenant Lynch was designated to 
command her, and she was to be provided with two 
metallic boats instead of the usual boats of wood, one 
of which was made of iron and painted, the other of 
copper. '^ 

How did he descend the Jordan ? When did he reach the Dead 
Sea? What was the greatest depth found by him? How long did 
he continue on the sea ? The effect upon the boat and everything 
exposed to the water ? When and where did Lieutenant Moly- 
neux die ? What preparations were at this time making for the 
American expedition ? 



THE DEAD SEA. 153 

The results of this expedition, so far as they relate 
to the river Jordan, have already been given. Those 
with reference to the Dead Sea are subjoined : — 

^^The waters of the sea were devoid of smell, but 
they were bitter, salt, and nauseous. 

" ^ As we rounded to the westward/ writes Lieutenant 
Lynch, ' the agitated sea presented a sheet of foaming 
brine. The spray, separating as it fell, left incrustations 
of salt upon our faces and clothes, and while it caused a 
pricking sensation wherever it touched the skin, w^as 
above all exceedingly painful to the eyes. 

" ' The boats, heavily laden, struggled sluggishly at 
first, but when the wind freshened to a gale, it seemed as 
if the bows, so dense was the water, were encountering 
the sledge-hammers of the Titans, instead of the oppo- 
sing waves of an angry sea. 

" ' At the expiration of an hour and a half, we were 
driven far to leeward, and I was compelled to bear away 
for the shore. When w^e were near to it, and while I 
was weighing the practicability of landing the boats 
through the surf, the wind suddenly ceased, and with it 
the sea rapidly fell — the ponderous quality of the water 
causing it to settle as soon as the agitating power had 
ceased to act. Within five minutes there was a perfect 
calm, and the sea w^as unmoved even by undulation. 
At eight P. M., weary and exhausted, we reached a 
place of rendezvous upon the north-west shore.^ 

" The three succeeding days were devoted to sound- 
ing. Resting over Easter Sunday, the party resumed 

Character of the waters ? Smell, and taste ? Effects of the 
spray upon whatever it fell on ? Upon the eyes ? Effect of the 
surges when beating against the bows ? Sudden calm upon the 
ceasing of the wind ? and the cause of it ? 



154 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

operations the next day, making topographical sketches 
a;s they went, and touching at a copious stream issuing 
from hot springs, and the mouth of the river Arnon of 
antiquity. They proceeded thence by degrees to the 
southern extremity of the sea, where the most wonderful 
sight that they had yet seen awaited them. 

" ^ In passing the mountain of Uzdom (Sodom), we 
unexpectedly and much to our astonishment,' continues 
our adventurous explorer, ^saw a large, round, turret- 
shaped column facing towards the south-east, which 
proved to be of solid rock-salt, capped with carbonate of 
lime ; one mass of crystaUization. Mr. Dale took a 
sketch of it, and Dr. Anderson and I with great difficulty 
landed and procured specimens from it.' 

" The sea soon proved so shallow that they could pro- 
ceed no further. Half a mile from the southern shore 
they found but six inches water, and beyond, an exten- 
sive marsh too yielding for a foothold. 

" Near the eastern shore they encountered a sirocco, 
which came sweeping from the south-east across the De- 
sert of Arabia with a stifling heat. At eight P. M. their 
thermometer, which before had ranged from 88^ to 97^, 
stood at 106^. ^ We could not take our tents with us,' 
says the interesting letter from which we are quoting, 
' nor did we need them, as we found it more agreeable 
sleeping in the open air upon the beach.' 

'' Having circumnavigated the lake, and returning to 
their place of departure, they found the sad intelligence 
of Mr. Adams's death aw^aiting their arrival. Their co- 

What springs did tjiey find upon the shore ? What wonderful 
sight did they behold near the mountain of Uzdom ? What is at the 
southern extremity of the sea ? Effects of a sirocco ? Tempera- 
ture at the time ? 



THE DEAD SEA. 155 

lours were lowered at half mast, and there, out upon the 
dark waters of this mysterious sea, this little band of 
true-hearted Americans paid a tribute to the memory 
of the patriot and statesman, with twenty-one minute- 
guns fired from their frail vessels. The echoes from 
the cavernous recesses of the lofty and barren mountains 
which surrounded them, startled the Arabs, and rever- 
berated loudly and strangely upon the ears of the 
mourners. 

" The letters of Lieutenant Lynch, giving an account, 
currente calamo, of his proceedings, are of great value 
and exceeding interest. We hope soon to have the 
pleasure of receiving from his official report an account 
of this expedition, and of the results of his survey of 
this mysterious lake. 

" ' We have,' says he, ^ elicited several facts of inte- 
rest to the man of science and the Christian. 

"^The bottom of the northern half of this sea is 
almost an entire plain. Its meridional lines at a short 
distance from the shore scarce vary in depth. The 
deepest soundings, thus far, one hundred and eighty-eight 
fathoms (1128 feet). Near the shore, the bottom is 
generally an incrustation of salt, but the immediate one 
is soft mud with many rectangular crystals — mostly 
cubes — of pure salt. At one time Stellwagen's lead 
brought up nothing but crystals. 

" ' The southern half of the sea is as shallow as the 
northern one is deep, and for about one-fourth of its en- 
tire length the depth does not exceed three fathoms 

Death of John Quincy Adams, how commemorated ? What is 
the hottom of the northern part of the sea ? How covered, or of 
what composed ? Depth of the water in the northern part ? In the 
southern? 



156 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

(eighteen feet). Its southern bed has presented no 
crystals, but the shores are lined with incrustations of 
salt, and when we landed at Uzdom, in the space of an 
hour our footprints w^ere coated with crystallization. 

" ' The opposite shores of the peninsula and the west 
coast present evident marks of disruption. 

" ' There are unquestionably birds and insects upon 
the shores, and ducks are sometimes upon the sea, for 
we have seen them — but cannot detect any living thing 
within it ; although the salt streams flowing into it, con- 
tain small fish. My hopes have been strengthened into 
conviction, and I feel sure that the results of this survey 
will fully sustain the Scriptural account of the Cities of 
the Plain. 

" ' With one exception we are all well ; save to that 
one, not a dose of medicine has been administered — and 
his disease is neither caused nor affected by the climate. 
Although we are up early and out long, living on two 
meals a day, save when we are restricted to one, there 
is no complaining, — all seem to be actuated by a high 
sense of duty. The preserved meats have proved al- 
most worthless, few being able to eat them, and some- 
times our only food is rice. Oranges and lemons, luxu- 
ries in our happy country, are here, from the want of 
vegetables, absolute necessaries. Still, as there are ca- 
villers at home, I have once sent to Jerusalem and pur- 
chased them for the men at my own expense. 

" ' The expense of guards to our baggage while we 

How is the southern shore lined '/ Appearance of footprints in it ? 
Appearance of the opposite shores of the peninsula and of the west 
coast ? Birds and insects upon the shore and ducks upon the water ? 
Is any living thing found in the water ? Health of the party? Their 
diet? 



THE DEAD SEA. 157 

were absent, I am obliged to incur, as also for their 
transportation from place to place, for the boats can 
carry no more than the officers and men ; the arms, in- 
struments, food, and water. The whole cost from 
Beirout to this place, including purchases, camels, 
horses, guards, and guides, amounted to about seven 
hundred dollars. I strive to be economical. 

" ^ With the Arabs we are on the most friendly terms. 
In accordance with the tenor of my orders, I have 
agreed to pay them fairly for all the services they may 
render and provisions they may bring — but for nothing 
more. Thus far, two false alarms excepted, we have 
been undisturbed in our progress and operations. I 
scarce know what we should have done without the 
Arabs. They bring us food when nearly famished, and 
water when parched with thirst. They act as guides 
and messengers, and In our absence faithfully guard our 
tents, bedding, and clothes. A decided course, tempered 
with courtesy, wins at once their respect and good will. 
Although they are an impetuous race, not an angry 
word has thus far passed between us. With the bless- 
ing of God, I hope to preserve the existence of har- 
mony to the last. 

^' ' Even if my letter were more brief, this is not a 
proper place to dwell upon the wonders of this sea, for 
wondrous it is, in every sense of the word, so sudden 
are the changes of the weather and so different the as- 
pects it presents, as at times to seem as if we were in a 
world of enchantments. We are alternately beside and 
upon the brink and the surface of a huge and sometimes 
seething cauldron.' 



Expense of the expedition ? Intercourse with the Arabs ? Im- 
portance of their assistance ? Wonderful changes of the sea ? 



158 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

" The greatest depth obtained was two hundred and 
eighteen fathoms (l^SOS feet). Having completed the 
survey of the sea, the party proceeded to determine the 
height of mountains on its shores, and to run a level 
thence via Jerusalem to the Mediterranean. They found 
the summit of the precipitous ridge which forms the 
west bank of the Dead Sea to be more than a thousand 
feet above its surface, and very nearly on a level with 
the Mediterranean. 

" It is a curious fact, that the distance from the top to 
the bottom of the Dead Sea should measure the height 
of its banks, the elevation of the Mediterranean, and the 
difference of level between the bottom of the two seas, 
and that the depth of the Dead Sea should also be an 
exact multiple of the height of Jerusalem above it. 

'^ Another not less singular fact, in the opinion of 
Lieutenant Lynch, ' is that the bottom of the Dead Sea 
forms two submerged plains, an elevated and a depressed 
one. The first, its southern part, of slimy mud, covered 
by a shallow bay ; the last, its northern and largest por- 
tion, of mud and incrustations and rectangular crystals 
of salt, at a great depth, with a narrow ravine running 
through it, corresponding with the bed of the river Jor- 
dan at one extremity, and the Wady El-Jeib, or wady 
within a wady, at the other.' 

^'The slimy ooze upon that plain at the bottom of the 
Dead Sea will not fail to remind the sacred historian of 
the ^ slime pits' in the vale, where were joined in battle 
^ four kings with five.' 

Greatest depth obtained ? Height of the western shores ? Height 
compared with the depth of the sea ? How does the depth compare 
with the height of Jerusalem ? Submerged plains at the bottom of 
the sea ? Ravine running through the northern plain ? 



DIVISIONS OF THE SEASONS. 159 

"June the Qth, the whole party, after an absence of 
a Httle over two months, had returned to St. Jean d'Acre 
on the Mediterranean. They brought back their boats 
in as complete order as they received them on board at 
New York. The party were in fine health. Save a 
flesh-wound to one man from the accidental discharge 
of his piece, not an accident or mishap had occurred to 
any one. The Arabs would point to them and say, ' God 
is with them.' " 

Lieutenant Lynch has endeared himself to his coun- 
trymen and to the w^hole Christian world, by the suc- 
cessful accomplishment of this adventurous enterprise. 
The skill with which it was planned, the energy with 
which it was executed, reflect great credit upon the 
American service. 

By this expedition, problems, great and important 
in the eyes of Christendom, have been solved by the 
American government, and a noble contribution made 
to the interests of Sacred literature. 

DIVISIONS OF THE SEASONS IN PALESTINE. 

The natural divisions of the seasons are two ; the 
rainy and the dry. The rainy season begins gradually 
about the 1st of November. The rain continues for 
two or three days with w^esterly winds, and is succeeded 
by an interval of pleasant weather and easterly winds. 
December and January are rainy months, in which also 
snow and hail frequently fall. Ice, however, seldom 
forms, and the snow continues but for a day. 

When did the exploring party return to Acre ? In what condi- 
tion? What opinions are entertained of the expedition? What 
problems have been solved by it ? 

Division of the seasons ? Hov^ and vi^hen does the rainy season 
commence ? Through what months does it continue ? 



160 HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Spring opens the latter part of February, but showers 
continue to fall in March and April. These showers, 
with which the rainy season begins and ends, are " the 
former and the latter rain'^ of the Scriptures. (Deut. xi : 
14 ; Jer. iii : 3 ; v: 24 ; James v: 7.) 

In April and May a delightful verdure covers the 
earth ; and a balmy fragrance fills the air. " The win- 
ter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers 
appear on the earth ; the time of the singing of birds is 
come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land.^' 

From June to October, little or no rain falls ; the 
heat is intense ; vegetation dies, and the earth becomes 
parched, seared, and desolate. The harvest begins in 
the latter part of May. Grapes ripen in July, and the 
vintage follows in August and September. 

PRODUCTIVENESS OF THE COUNTRY. 

The central chain of mountains is intersected and 
traversed by valleys which, running among the hills in 
every direction, are often watered by fountains or springs 
or running brooks, and relieve the general aspect of steri- 
lity with many a scene of beauty, fertility, and verdure. 

The hills and mountain heights, though naked and 
barren, are composed of a rock which is easily formed 
into soil, and capable of cultivation, by means of ter- 
races, from the base upwards. 

These terraces, when the country is ravaged by war, 
or depopulated, and cultivation abandoned, soon fall into 

Opening of spring ? The former and latter rain ? Verdure of 
spring ? Summer season, drought and heat ? Beginning of har- 
vest ? Time of vintage ? 

Productiveness of the country ? Means of increasing its produc- 
tiveness ? 



PRODUCTIVENESS OF CANAAN. 161 

decay. The soil collected on them is carried down and 
washed aw^ay, leaving the hill-side naked and desolate. 
Though now comparatively barren, the country is capa- 
ble of being made productive, and of supporting a dense 
population. 

These considerations may show that the country 
which now appears so desolate and barren, after the 
waste of ages, and the neglect into which it has fallen 
under a withering oppression for many centuries, may, 
notwithstanding, have once been " a good land ; a land 
of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring 
out of valleys and hills ; a land of wheat, and barley, 
and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates ; a land of 
oil-olive, and honey; a land in which thou shalt eat 
bread without scarceness, and shalt not lack anything 
in it.^^ 

All ancient history, sacred and profane, attests the 
exceeding fertihty of this country. According to the 
census taken by Joab and David (2 Sam. xxiv : 9), Ju- 
dah and Israel contained 1,300,000 fighting men, w^hich 
supposes a population of at least 5,000,000, or of one 
hundred and sixty to the square mile. This is about 
half the population of Belgium, and two-thirds of that 
of England and Wales. 

Josephus states that there were in Galilee alone, two 
hundred and four cities and towns, which contained each 
15,000 or more inhabitants. 

Others, however, ascribe the former fertility of the 

Constructioa of terraces ? Of what use ? Former condition of 
the country ? Causes of its present sterility ? Ancient population 
of the country ? Population by the square mile compared with 
Belgium and England ? Population and number of cities of Galilee 
according to Josephus ? 
11 



162 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

country to the special blessing of God, and see in its 
present barrenness the judicial visitation of God. " The 
whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning ; 
it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth 
therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, 
Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his 
anger and in his wrath : even all nations shall say, 
Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? 
w^hat meaneth the heat of this great anger? Then 
men shall say. Because they have forsaken the covenant 
of the Lord God of their fathers, which he made with 
them when he brought them forth out of the land of 
Egypt." (Deut. xxix : 23-25; compare also Deut. 
xxviii : 16, 23, 24, 38-42.) 

The promised blessing is contained in the following 
passages: Levit. xxvi: 3-5; Deut. vii: 12-14; xi: 
8-15 ; xxviii : 1-4, 8, 11, 12 ; Isa. xxx: 19-24. 

Such is the land which, from the plains of Moab, the 
Israelites beheld beyond Jordan, as their Land of Pro- 
mise, where they were to rest from their long and weary 
pilgrimage ; and which, by divine command, they were 
now to go over to possess. 

INHABITANTS OF CANAAN. 

It was inhabited by several warlike tribes, who would 
firmly contest with them the right of the soil ; but upon 
whom the curse of God rested, devoting them to utter 
destruction. 

Blessing and curse pronounced upon it ? Give the passages in the 
Scriptures in which curses are pronounced? "VThat passages con- 
tain the promised blessing ? 

What was the character of the people who inhabited the Land of 
Canaan ? What curse is spoken of? 



SIEGE OF JERICHO, 163 

These Canaanites were at this time divided into 
several tribes, of whom frequent mention is made in this 
portion of sacred history; such as the Amorites, a 
colony of whom inhabited around the south-western shore 
of the Dead Sea ; the Hittites, in the southern part of 
Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Hebron and Beer- 
sheba ; the Jebusites, who possessed the mountains of 
Jerusalem and the vicinity; the Girgashites, supposed 
to dwell near the Jordan, but their location is un-' 
known; the Hivites, around Mount Hermon and the 
northern part of Palestine ; and the Perizzites, in the 
northern part of the great central chain of mountains 
before described, south of the plain of Esdraelon. 

SIEGE OF JERICHO. 

The Israelites passed miraculously over Jordan in 
the month of April, when the river is supposed to have 
been twelve hundred feet wide and, fourteen deep, and 
encamped at Gilgal, on the opposite plains of Jericho, 
to renew the ancient rite of circumcision. Here they 
ate of the old corn of the land, and the manna 
ceased. (Josh, v.) 

The miraculous overthrow of the walls of Jericho 
and the utter extermination of the inhabitants, except 
Rahab, soon followed. (Josh, vi.) 

Joshua pronounced a fearful curse upon him who 
should rebuild the city ; which was executed, five hun- 

Into how many tribes were they divided ? What part of the land 
was occupied by the Amorites ? The Hittites ? The Jebusites ? 
The Girgashites ? The Hivites ? The Perizzites ? 

Passage over Jordan ? Time and manner of it ? Siege and over- 
throw of Jericho ? Historical associations and incidents ? Situation 
and distance from Jerusalem ? 



164 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

dred and twenty years afterwards, upon Hiel. (1 Kings 
xvi : 34.) 

Previously to this, and almost immediately after the 
death of Joshua, reference is made to it, under the 
name of the City of Palm-trees. (Judges iii: 13.) In 
the time of Elijah and Elisha it became a school of the 
prophets. (2 Kings ii : 4, 5.) 

At a short distance north-west are two fountains 
near each other gushing from the earth, and yielding a 
stream of water sufficient to irrigate the whole plain. 
These waters are now sweet and wholesome. Whether 
their salubrity is the effect of that miracle or not, this 
was doubtless the scene of Elisha's miracle in the heal- 
ing of the w^aters. (2 Kings ii: 21.) 

The messengers of David tarried here, after their 
insult by Hanun, until their beards were grown. (2 Sam. 
x: 5.) 

From the Babylonish captivity the inhabitants of this 
city returned again to it. (Ezra ii : 34.) Herod the 
Great built here a castle, in which he died. Jericho 
was once visited by our Lord, when he lodged with 
Zaccheus, and when he also healed two blind men. 
(Matt. XX : 29, 30 ; Luke xix: 1-10.) 

There is still a miserable hamlet of one or two hun- 
dred inhabitants, bearing the name of Rihah, but the 
site of the ancient city is supposed to be identified by 
some ruins two miles west of this, and near the road 
that comes down from Jerusalem. The city was some 
twenty miles east of Jerusalem. 

Judgment upon Hiel ? What of the City of Palm-trees ? Healing 
of waters by Elisha? School of the prophets? Insult to David's 
messengers by Hanun ? Residence of Herod the Great ? Visit by 
our Lord ? Miracle performed ? Hamlet of Rihah ? Supposed 
site of Jericho ? Present appearance ? Pistance from Jerusalem ? 



CAPTURE OF AI. 165 



GILGAL. 



No trace remains of the neighbouring city of Gilgal, 
where the Israelites made their first encampment in 
Canaan, and ate of the corn of the land, and ceased to 
be fed with the bread of heaven. We only know that 
Gilgal was east of Jericho, between that city and the 
Jordan. l(Josh. iv: 19.) 

Here Joshua erected twelve stones taken from the 
river, as a memorial of their miraculous passage. Sa- 
muel offered sacrifices here, and, as is supposed, before 
the tabernacle of the Lord. (1 Sam. x: 8; xv: 21, 33.) 
Here he also held his yearly court of justice. (1 Sam. 
vii : 16.) Saul was here recognised as king. Under 
Joram and Elisha, at a later period, there was a school 
of the prophets at Gilgal. (2 Kings ix : 38.) In the reign 
of Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz, it w^as the seat of idolatrous 
worship and the subject of execration by the prophets of 
the Lord. (Hosea iv: 15; ix: 15; xii: 11 ; x\mosiv: 4, 5.) 

Dr. Robinson offers no opinion respecting this lo- 
cality. Von Schubert supposes it to have been near 
the present castle at Rihah. 

CAPTURE OF AI. 

The conquest of Ai by stratagem soon followed 
(Josh, viii: 1-30); a city of twelve hundred inhabitants, 
situated twelve miles north-west of Jericho, and three 
south-east of Bethel. 

What was the first encampment of the Israelites in Canaan ? For 
what incidents in their history is Gilgal remarkable ? For what 
was it remarkable under Samuel ? Under Elisha ? And again under 
Uzziahj Jotham, and Ahaz ? What is known of its situation ? 

Where was Ai ? Population ? How was it captured, and by 
whom ? 



166 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

The site of this ancient town is supposed by Dr. Ro- 
binson to be indicated by a few excavated tombs, foun- 
dations of hewn stones, and reservoirs for water. It 
appears to have been again rebuilt (Isa. x: 28), and, 
after the captivity, was inhabited by exiles who returned 
from Babylon. (Ezra ii : 28 ; Neh. vii : 32.) 

SHECHEM, OR SYCHAR. 

After the overthrow of Ai the Israelites proceeded, 
without opposition, into the interior to Shechem, in 
Samaria, among the mountains of Ephraim, where, 
agreeably to Divine command (Deut. xxvii.), the law 
was engraved on tables of stone and set up on Ebal 
or Gerizim ; and the covenant solemnly renewed 
with Jehovah, their God and their King. (Josh, viii : 
30-35.) 

This place is about forty miles north-north-west from 
Jericho, and nearly the same distance north of Jerusa- 
lem. From a few miles south of Shechem runs north 
a continuous range of mountains, which fall abruptly 
down on the east to a narrow^ and fertile valley, from 
one to three miles in width, and eight or ten in length. 
In this valley are the plains of Moreh. (Gen. xii : 6.) 

Near the northern part of this plain the mountains on 
the west are rent asunder, forming two high bluffs, se- 
parated by a narrow defile, which, as it runs into the 
interior, turns to the south-west, forming a sequestered 

Site and present remains of Ai ? Was the city ever rebuilt ? By 
whom inhabited ? 

Where did the children of Israel travel after the capture of Ai? 
Where is Shechem ? Why was it visited by Joshua ? Tables of 
the law on Ebal or Gerizim ? The blessings and the curses pro- 
nounced ? Local scenery ? Plain of Moreh ? 



SHECHE3I. ' 167 

glen of great beauty, where lies the ancient city of 
Shechem, the modern Nabulus. 

These opposite bluffs, which form the gateway to the 
valley within, are Ebal and Gerizim; the former on the 
north, the latter on the south. 

^^It was late in the afternoon," says Mr. Stephens, 
^' when I was moving up the valley of Nabulus. The 
mountains of Gerizim and Ebal, the mountains of bless- 
ings and curses, were towering like lofty walls on either 
side of me ; Mount Gerizim fertile, and Mount Ebal 
barren,"^ as when God commanded Joshua to set up the 
stones in MountJEbal, and pronounced on Mount Geri- 
zim blessings upon the children of Israel ^ if they would 
hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord, to observe 
and to do all his commandments,' (Deut. xxviii: 1.) and 
on Ebal the withering curses of disobedience. 

" A beautiful stream, in two or three places filling 
large reservoirs, was running through the valley. A 
shepherd sat on its bank, playing a reed pipe, with his 
flock feeding quietly around him. The shades of eve- 
ning were gathering fast as I approached the town of 
Nabulus, the Shechem or Sychem of the Old Testament, 
and the Sychar of the New.^f 

In the whole world perhaps a more appropriate situ- 
ation could not be found for the great solemnity of pub- 
licly accepting the institutions of the Lord God, the 
Lawgiver of Israel, than these twin mounts, Gerizim 
and Ebal. 

Ebal and Gerizim ? The vaUey between ? The situation of the 
city in a retired glen ? Stephens's approach to it ? What is said 
of its appropriate situation for renewing the covenant with God ? 

* Other travellers have not noticed any peculiar sterility in this 
mountain above that of Gerizim. 

t Incidents of Travel, vol. ii. 239-40. 



168 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Here, on large stones, are written out the principles of 
their government, their constitution, the charter of their 
rights, framed by the King of Heaven. Sacrifices are 
offered upon an altar built of unhewn stones upon Ebal. 

The ark, attended by the priests, stands in the valley 
between the two mountains ; while on each side are the 
thousands of Israel, from the chiefs, the judges, and the 
Levites, to the women, the children, and the stranger. 
All are there. Six tribes — Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebu- 
lun, Dan, and Naphthali — stand on the barren Ebal, to 
pronounce the curses of the Law upon the wrong-doer 
and the disobedient ; and six — Simeon, Levi, Judah, 
Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin — upon the verdant and 
beautiful Gerizim, to pronounce the blessings upon the 
well-doer and the obedient. And as each clause of the 
blessing and of the curse is pronounced, the whole assem- 
bled multitude on either mount raise to heaven their 
loud Amen ! So let it be ! (Deut. xxvii : 11-26.) 

By this solemn response they receive and ratify the 
law of the Lord their God, and invoke his curse upon 
him that confirmeth not all the words of this law, to do 
them. 

Abraham and Jacob dwelt in Shechem. Under an 
oak, in this place, the latter patriarch buried the false 
gods of his family, as he removed to Bethel on his re- 
turn from Padan-aram. Near by this city the brethren 
of Joseph were feeding their flocks when they sold him 
to the Midianites. 

What record was made of the law ? What sacrifices attended the 
ratification of it ? Where was the tabernacle ? How were the 
people divided? What tribes on Ebal, and what on Gerizim? 
What was their response, and what the signification of it ? De- 
scribe the visits of Abraham and Jacob ? The treachery of Joseph's 
brethren ? 



CONQUEST OF GIBEON. 169 

Under Joshua, Shechem became a levitical town, a 
city of refuge, and a centre of union to the several tribes. 
Here they buried the bones of Joseph. (Josh, xxiv : 32.) 
This is the scene of the incidents in the Hfe of Jotham 
and the usurper Abimelech, who died by the hands of a 
woman at Thebez, thirteen miles north-east of Shechem. 
(Judges ix.) The city w^as consecrated by the visit of 
our Saviour, and his conversation with the woman of 
Samaria at Jacob's Well. (John iv.) It is particularly 
memorable in the history of the kings as the seat of the 
revolt of the ten tribes under Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 

On Mount Gerizim, Sanballat built the temple of the 
Samaritans, where they claimed that men ought to 
pray, and not at Jerusalem. A little remnant of this sect 
still inhabit this city, and go up, as did their fathers two 
thousand years ago, to worship on this sacred mount. 

Shechem is still a town of eight or ten thousand in- 
habitants. A mile east of the city is the sepulchre of 
Joseph, in the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his 
son Joseph ; and three hundred paces south-east is 
Jacob's Well, a perpendicular shaft, of seventy-five feet 
in depth and nine feet in diameter, sunk in the solid 
rock, and still containing water, except in the dryest 
seasons of the year. 

CONQUEST OF GIBEON. 

Gibeon, eight miles south-west of Ai, next becomes 
the scene of the historical narrative. This was one of 

Shechem under Joshua ? Burial of Joseph ? Our Lord's visit to 
this place ? Incidents here in the life of Jotham and revolt of Re- 
hoboam ? The Samaritans ? Their origin ? Worship on this mount ? 
Hostility to the Jew^s ? Present population ? Remnant of the Sa- 
maritans ? Jacob's Well ? 

What of Gibeon ? Distance and direction from Ai ? 



170 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



the '' royal cities," larger and more powerful than Ai, 
having under its jurisdiction Cephirah, Beeroth, and 
Kirjath-jearim. 

It was situated on an eminence, five miles north-by- 
west from Jerusalem, and about the same distance 
south-west from Ai. Beeroth was three miles north of 
Gibeon, and Kirjath-jearim nearly the same distance 
south of this city. 

The situation of the other subordinate towns is not 
known. These cities, by stratagem, made a treaty with 
the Israelites, by which they were saved from destruc- 
tion, but were devoted to perpetual servitude. (Josh, ix.) 

Alarmed at this treaty of the Gibeonites, the principal 
kings of all the southern part of Palestine, under Adoni- 
zedek, king of Jerusalem, entered into a confederacy 
for mutual defence against their invaders. They brought 
their united forces against the Gibeonites, who appealed 
to Joshua, their ally, for defence. This brought him 
into immediate conflict with the confederate army be- 
fore Gibeon. 

The result of the battle was a total discomfiture of 
the allies. To enable Joshua to complete the victory, 
the sun, at his command, '<- stood still on Gibeon in the 
midst of heaven ; and the moon in the valley of Ajalon; 
and hasted not to go down about a whole day." (Josh. 
x: 12, 13.) 

Gibeon afterwards became a levitical city of the tribe 



Relative strength of Gibeon ? What cities under its jurisdiction ? 
Stratagem by which it formed a treaty with Joshua ? Consequence 
of this treaty ? Hostility of other Canaanitish cities ? Their con- 
federacy, their leader, and their war with Gibeon ? Relief by 
Joshua ? The battle and defeat of the confederate forces ? Pursuit 
by Joshua ? Trace the direction on the map ? Ajalon ? Standing 
stiU of the sun and moon: ? 



CONaUEST OF GIBEON. 171 

of Benjamin. Under David and Solomon, the heights 
of Gibeon were the appointed place of prayer, where, 
for many years, the Tabernacle was set up (l Chron. 
xvi : 37-39), the Ark of the Covenant being at Jerusa- 
lem (2 Chron. i: 3,4). It was here that Solomon, 
after offering a thousand burnt offerings, enjoyed the 
vision of God,'and received the promise of wisdom above 
all men. (1 Kings iii : 5-15 ; 2 Chron. i: 3-13.) Here 
Abner, captain of Saul's host, was defeated by Joab, in 
a sore battle; and Asahel, Joab's brother, slain. (2 
Sam. ii : 19-32.) And here Amasa, a commander of 
Absalom's rebel army, was subsequently assassinated 
by Joab. (2 Sam. xx : 8-12.) 

This interesting locality was discovered by Dr. Rob- 
inson. It is situated five miles north of Jerusalem, on 
the summit of an isolated and oblong hill which rises 
out of a beautiful and fertile plain, forming a very 
strong position for a town. The houses rise irregularly 
one above another, and consist chiefly of rooms which 
still remain in ancient ruins. One dilapidated tower is 
still standing, built of large stones, containing vaulted 
rooms with round arches, and having the appearance 
of great antiquity. 

Just below the summit of the ridge, on the north side, 
is a fine fountain of water, in a cave having a large 
subterranean reservoir cut out of the rock. A little 
lower down, among some olive-trees, is an open reser- 
voir, a hundred and twenty feet in length by a hundred 
in breadth. This is probably the ^' Pool of Gibeon," 

Historical associations? Plan of the Tabernacle? Of the Ark 
of the Covenant ? Promise to Solomon ? Relate the defeat of Ab- 
ner ? The assassination of Amasa ? Distance and direction from 
Jerusalem ? Commanding site ? Reservoir ? Pool of Gibeon ? 



172 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

mentioned in the story of Abner (2 Sam. ii: 13), and 
the ^^ great (or many) waters in Gibeon," spoken of 
in Jeremiah. (Jer. xli: 12.) 

BETH-HORON. 

, Beth-horon was on the north-west border of Benja- 
min, about twelve miles north-west from Jerusalem. 
Upper Beth-horon was built on a high headland, which 
juts out westward from the mountains of Ephraim, like 
a promontory, between the valleys of Gibeon and 
Beeroth, which at the base unite and form the com- 
mencement of the valley of Ajalon, leading off to the 
broad western plain. Lower Beth-horon was at the 
junction of these valleys, at the foot of the mountain. 

Near Upper Beth-horon, on the summit where one 
looks away eastward to Gibeon, Joshua must have 
stood when he called out to the sun, yet rising over 
Gibeon ; and to the moon, just settling down over the 
western valley of Ajalon. '^ Sun, stand thou still upon 
Gibeon; and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon." 
(Josh, x: 12.) 

Beth-horon afterwards became a levitical city. Both 
Upper and Nether Beth-horon were fortified by Solomon 
(1 Kings ix : 17 ; 2 Chron. viii : 5), and ruins of strong 
fortifications are still found in both places. Judas Mac- 
cabeus here defeated, with a small band, the host of 
the Syrians. (1 Mac. iii: 15.) 

Where was Beth-horon ? Describe the position of Upper and 
Lower Beth-horon ? The mountain, the valley of Gibeon at the 
base, and the valley of Ajalon ? Where was Joshua, and what the 
relative situation of the sun and naoon, when at his command they 
stood still ? By whom was Beth-horon fortified ? Defeat of the 
Syrians here ? 



CONQUEST OF SOUTHERN CANAAN. 173 



CONQUEST OF SOUTHERN CANAAN. 

The routed army first fled north-west to Beth-horon, 
five miles from Ajalon. On this route they were smit- 
ten by hailstones, by which more died than by the hand 
of the Israelites. (Josh, x : 11.) From hence they fled 
south through Azekah, eight miles, to Makkedah, six 
miles further south-by-east. This is said by Eusebius 
and Jerome to be a little north-w^est of Hebron. The 
entire distance of this circuitous route may have been 
twenty miles. 

The pursuit was soon renew^ed by Joshua, who put 
to death the five kings, who hid themselves in a cave 
there. By this signal victory he obtained a conquest 
over Jerusalem and Hebron, together with Lachish, 
Eglon, and Jarmuth. The latter city was twelve miles 
south-west from Jerusalem. Eglon was as much fur- 
ther in the same direction, near the borders of the Phi- 
listines. 

Lachish was still further south, a few miles south- 
west from Hebron. This afterwards became a city of 
importance. Amaziah, king of Judah, was pursued 
and slain here. (2 Kings xiv : 19 ; 2 Chron. xxv : 27.) 
Rab-shakeh, the Assyrian, came up from this city 
against Jerusalem (2 Kings xviii : 14, 17) ; and Nebu- 
chadnezzar, king of Babylon, laid siege to it as one of 
the fenced cities of Judah. (Jer. xxxiv: 7.) 

Give the route of the defeated army in their retreat from the 
valley of Ajalon ? What befell them in their retreat ? Where was 
Makkedah ? What transpired here ? Where wb.s Jarmuth ? Eg- 
lon ? Lachish? What of Amaziah, king of Judah? What of 
Rab-shakeh, the Assyrian ? What of Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon. 



174 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Anab is another city enumerated in these conquests 
of Joshua. This, Dr. Robinson discovered six miles 
south of Hebron, in the mountains of Judah. Seen at 
a distance, it was marked only by a small tower. The 
same traveller has the honour of having recovered seve- 
ral other towns in this neighbourhood, and thus bring- 
ing out a sure and delightful proof of the truth of 
Sacred History. This history is now totally unknown 
by the inhabitants, and yet they retain to this day the 
names of these places, just as they were when fre- 
quented by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Samuel, 
and David. 

With reference to several of these ancient towns he 
says : ^' Here, then, we found ourselves surrounded by 
the towns of the mountains of Judah ; and could enu- 
merate before us not less than nine places, still bearing 
apparently their ancient names, Maon, Carmel, Ziph, 
and Juttah ; Jattir, Socoh, Anab, and Estemoh ; and 
Kirjath-arba, w^hich is Hebron. ^Josh. xv: 47-55.) 
The feelings with which we looked upon these ancient 
cities, most of w^hich had hitherto remained unknown, 
were of themselves a sufficient reward for our whole 
journey." {Researches^ ii. p. 195.) 

Joshua, in the course of a few months, swept his con- 
quests over the whole of the south of Canaan, afterwards 
known as Judea, from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and ex- 
tending as far north in this country as to Jerusalem, 
which is here called Goshen (Josh, x : 41 ; xi : 16) ; and 
having completely subjugated the land, returned to the 

Where was Anab ? What remains of it are still found ? What 
other ancient places did Dr. Robinson find here? What range of 
country did the southern conquests of Joshua include ? How long 
was he engaged in this expedition ? 



CONaUEST OF THE NORTH OF CANAAN, 175 

encampment of his people at Gilgal. The other towns 
inchided in these conquests enumerated by Joshua 
(chap, xii), are, for the most part, unknown in history. 
JBeer-sheba and En-gedi have been already mentioned. 

CONQUEST OP THE NORTH OF CANAAN. 

Alarmed by these conquests at the south, the northern 
natives of Canaan entered into a more extensive and 
formidable confederacy for their mutual defence against 
these invaders. 

The head of this confederacy was Jabin, king of 
Hazor, near the Waters of Merom (the Lake Huleh), in 
the northern part of Galilee ; assisted by the people of 
Dor, on the Mediterranean, between Caesarea and Mount 
Carmel, and by the people of Cinneroth, on the western 
shore of the Sea of Tiberias. The other smaller tribes, 
who inhabited the whole extent between the Mediterra- 
nean and the valley of the Jordan, from the mountains 
of Lebanon on the north, to the parallel of Jerusalem 
on the south, joined in this formidable confederacy. 

These, who had not been subjugated in the southern 
conquests of Joshua, gathered together an immense 
army near the Waters of Merom, in the north-eastern 
part of Palestine, under Jabin. 

Joshua, by divine command, proceeded up the valley 
of the Jordan, and along the w^estern shore of the Sea 
of Tiberias, to give them battle before their own camp. 

To what place did Joshua return after his conquest? What is 
said of some of the towns included in this conquest ? 

What confederacy next engaged the attention of Joshua ? Who 
was at the head of it ? AVhere were Hazor and Dor ? What extent 
of country did this conspiracy comprehend ? Where did the con- 
federate army assemble ? What route did Joshua go to meet them ? 



176 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Over this allied army he gained a complete victory, and 
followed up his success by waging a war of extermina- 
tion against the several cities and tribes who had joined 
in the confederacy. ; 

These northern conquests occupied considerable time : 
" Joshua made war a long time with all those kings." 
Then followed a desultory war for some years, against 
the gigantic highlanders, the Anakims, who continued 
to defend their strongholds in the mountains ; but they 
were finally dispossessed of their fastnesses in the high- 
lands, and with a few exceptions utterly exterminated. 

^^ And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Ana- 
kims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, 
from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and 
from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed 
them utterly with their cities. There was none of the 
Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel : 
only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained." 
(Josh, xi: 21,22.) 

Thus was the conquest of the land completed in five 
expeditions — 1. Jericho; 2. Ai ; 3. The kings of the 
south ; 4. The kings of the north ; 5. The Anakims in 
the southern and northern highlands. 

'^ So Joshua took the whole land, according to all 
that the Lord said unto Moses ; and Joshua gave it for 
an inheritance unto Israel, according to their divisions 
by their tribes. And the land rested from war." (Josh, 
xi:23.) 

This peace concluded a restless conflict of five or six 
years, in making the conquest of the country. 

Result of the battle ? Where was it fought ? What war suc- 
ceeded this ? When and against whom was it waged ? What was 
the result of it in relation to the Anakims ? How many expeditions 
did the conquest of the land require ? How long did they last ? 



HAZOR. 177 

HAZOR. 

Some of the principal cities included in these con- 
quests are enumerated by Joshua, chap, xii : 17-24, but 
the situation of most of them is unknown. On the 
summit of the mountain west of Huleh, overlooking 
the lake and the plain, and commanding a vast range 
of country, there is an immense fortress which Mr. 
Thompson supposes may have been Hazor, the strong- 
hold of the spirited chieftain who had the address to 
consolidate this formidable conspiracy against Joshua. 

Dr. Robinson, however, supposes that Hazor may 
have been a few miles further south on the same 
ridge of highlands. But the castle, which now bears 
the name of Hunin, is evidently an ancient locality, and 
deserves a notice in this connexion. 

" This fortress is the most conspicuous object on the 
western mountains. It stands out in bold relief, from 
Banias almost due west, and has been in full view during 
all our rides for the last two days. The castle is an 
oblong quadrangle, rounded at the south end, and is 
about nine hundred feet long by three hundred wide. 
It overhangs the very brow of the precipice, which on 
the east side falls sheer down to a great depth, towards 
the plain. On the north and west sides it is protected 
by a trench hewn in the solid rock, forty feet wide and 
fifteen or tw^enty deep. 

" The southern and south-western parts are defended 
by six round towers, and a double wall. There are also 

Where was Hazor, according to Mr. Thompson ? According to 
Dr. Robinson? Situation of Hunin? Direction from Banias, and 
from Huleh? Length and breadth of the castle? Protection on 
several sides ? 
12 



178 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

three round towers on the eastern wall. The large 
area within was formerly covered with houses and ma- 
gazines, and undermined by numerous cisterns. The 
village has no fountain, but depends entirely upon these 
cisterns ; and the water at this dry season is very scarce 
and alive with animalcules. There is a fountain about 
a mile below the castle, near which I noticed foundations 
of ancient buildings. Probably the village was located 
there in former times. Insecurity has, however, obliged 
the people to settle around this feudal castle. The vil- 
lage is small, and inhabited by Metawileh. 

^^ Most of the works existing at present are quite 
modern ; probably Saracenic or even Turkish. But the 
northern part bears undoubted marks of extreme antiquity. 
It is about three hundred feet square, and surrounded on 
all sides by a ditch hewn in the solid rock, as described 
above. A few specimens of the original wall are still 
to be seen, and show that the whole was constructed of 
large bevelled stones bound together by iron clamps, 
bearing a close resemblance to works of Jewish or Phoe- 
nician origin which I have seen at Jerusalem, and on 
the island Ruad, the ancient Aradus. 

" May not this old castle mark the site of Hazor ? 
We know that Hazor was a city of Naphthali, somewhere 
in the neighbourhood of Kedesh, Abel, and Ijon. (Josh. 
xix : 36-38 ; 2 Kings xv : 29.) And if, as Josephus says, 
Hazor was on a high mountain above the Huleh, this 
site accords well with his account; for it occupies 
precisely such a position, commanding a noble view of 

Area within, how occupied formerly ? Supply of water ? Foun- 
tain below ? Probable site of the village ? Antiquity of the struc- 
ture ? Antiquity of the northern part ? Bevelled stones ? Reasons 
from Joshua and from Josephus for supposing that this may have 
been Hazor ? 



HAZOR. 179 

the plaln^ marsh, and lake. It was, moreover, evidently 
built to command the passage round the north-western 
border of the mareh. 

" There are three indications which seem to point out 
this place as being at least in the neighbourhood of Ha- 
zor. When Tiglath-Pileser attacked Pekah, king of 
Israel, he took Ijon, Abel, Kedesh, and Hazor. Now 
Ijon is Merj'Ayun ; and Abel is the modern Abil, di- 
rectly north of Hunin ; and Kedesh lies not far south of 
it. Hazor, therefore, must be either Hunin itself, or 
some place near it. In Joshua also Kedesh and Hazor 
are coupled together as two feudal or walled cities given 
to Naphthali. (Josh, xix : 36, 37.) 

'^ This much then is certain, that Hazor was a walled 
city somewhere in this vicinity ; and until it is further 
identified, Hunin may stand for its site. And this is 
countenanced by the earliest mention we have of Hazor. 
Jabin, king of Hazor, hearing that Joshua had con- 
quered all the south of Palestine, gathered a vast army 
from a great many neighbouring cities, amongst which 
Hunin w^ould be nearly the centre. With this host he 
took possession of the Waters of Merom ; that is, as I 
suppose, of the narrow passage between the marshes of 
the Huleh and the mountain, below this very Hunin, and 
near the great fountains of Derakit and El-Mellahah. 

*' But Joshua fell upon them suddenly, overthrew and 
chased them to old Sidon, &c. (Josh, xi: 1, seq.) Being 
routed, the host would necessarily rush along the narrow 
tract between the marsh and the mountains, up the rising 

Three indications that Hazor was near ? Army of Jabin, where 
assembled ? What is understood here by the " Waters of Merom" ? 
Course of the flight towards Zidon ? 



180 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



plain of Merj'Ayun, under Hunin, and passing by Abel 
would cross the Litani below Kulat Esh-Shukif, the 
only practicable point on the way to Sidon. From this 
ford the road is direct and plain by Nebatiyeh, Hab- 
bush, Deir Zahrany, Zifty (?), and the sea-shore, to Sidon, 
Joshua, having chased them to this city, turned back, 
the narration says, and took Hazor and burnt it with 
fire. 

" This was the only city that he burnt ; and it is fur- 
ther said that Hazor was the head of all the surrounding 
kingdoms. The position of Hunin seems to meet all 
the intimation contained in this narrative. Subsequentl)' 
we hear frequently of this Hazor, of its being rebuilt 
and repeatedly conquered. Josephus says that in the 
days of Deborah this Hazor had in pay 300,000 footmen, 
10,000 horsemen, and 3,000 chariots ; a story quite 
beyond the ne plus of my credulity. Hazor being by 
far the most powerful and celebrated of all the cities in 
this region, it becomes a question of interest to determine 
its location. 

" Kedes, the ancient Kedesh Naphthali, lies on the 
same mountain ridge, a few miles further south. We 
regretted our inability to visit it. As the sun rose this 
morning, I ascended one of the eastern towers to take 
bearings, and enjoy another view of this magnificent 
prospect. The north-east corner of the lake itself bore 
south-south-east. And in the extreme distance south, 
a little west, the mountains towards the Dead Sea are 
visible. 



Fate of Hazor after the return of Joshua to it? Subsequent his- 
tory ? Army, acccording to Josephus ? Footmen, horsemen, cha- 
riots ? Where was Kedesh ? Bearings of it, and of the lake, from 
Hunin ? 



MEGIDDO. 181 

" Tell El-Kady Is east a little north, and Banias in 
the same line. The summit of Mount Hermon bears 
north-east, and the highest peak of Lebanon, north a 
little east ; while the verdant carpet of Coele-Syria lies 
spread out between the two. I envy not the man w^ho 
can gaze on such a scene unmoved. Whatever is lovely 
in mountain, plain, marsh, and lake, is before the eye, 
and with surprising distinctness. 

"Old Jebel Esh-Sheikh, like a venerable Turk, with 
his head wrapped in a snowy turban, sits yonder on his 
throne in the sky, surveying with imperturbable dignity 
the fair lands below ; and all around, east, west, north, 
south, mountain meets mountain to guard and gaze upon 
the lovely vale of the Huleh. — What a constellation of 
venerable names ! Lebanon and Hermon, Bashan and 
Gilead, Moab and Judah, Samaria and Galilee ! 

" There, too, is the vast plain of Coele-Syria, Upper 
and Lower, studded with trees, clothed with flocks, and 
dotted with Arab tents ; and there the charming Huleh, 
with its hundred streams glittering like silver lace on 
robes of green, and its thousand pools sparkling in the 
morning sun. Venerable and beautiful vale of the Hu- 
leh, farewell !''^ 

MEGIDDO. 

This place was on the south-western border of the 
great plain of Esdraelon ; rebuilt and fortified by Solo- 
mon (1 Kings ix: 15). Ahaziah, king of Judah, fled 

Bearing of El-Kady ? Of Mount Hermon ? Varied beauties of 
the landscape ? Appearance of Jebel Esh-Sheikh ? Constellation 
of venerable names ? Ccele-Syria, and the vale of Huleh? 

For what is Megiddo remarkable in the history of Solomon ? Of 
Ahaziah ? 

* Thompson. 



182 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

hither when wounded by Jehu, and died (2 Kings ix : 
27). Josiah also was slain near this place ^2 Kings 
xxiii : 29). The mourning on this occasion became 
proverbial for any similar national sorrow: '' Like the 
mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon." 
(Zech. xii : 11.) 

The ruins of this place are found on the north side 
of a small hill, consisting of foundations for buildings, 
with prostrate pillars of granite and limestone. 

Taanach, of which mention is made in the triumphal 
song of Deborah (Judges v : 19), is still recognised, four 
miles south of Megiddo. 

" The waters of Megiddo" are probably a small 
stream noticed by Mr. Walcott, which springs from the 
hills above Megiddo. It is sufficient to feed three or four 
mills, and the largest rivulet in all the southern region 
of the great valley. 

BAAL-GAD, NOW BAALBEK. 

This town, which constituted the northern limits of 
the conquests of Joshua (Josh, xi: 17; xii: 7), w^as 
situated in the valley between Lebanon and Anti-Leba- 
non ; and afterwards, in an age unknown, became 
the seat of stupendous structures for idolatrous wor- 
ship, which remain in ruined, gloomy magnificence, 
the wonder of every age, and admiration of every be- 
holder. 

These ruins have often been described. The follow- 
ing extracts in relation to them are from the pen of Dr. 
Wilson : — 

Of Josiah ? For what proverbial ? W'^here was Megiddo ? What 
traces of it remain ? Waters of Megiddo ? 

What is the modern name of Baal-Gad ? Where situated ? For 
what distinguished ? Object of these structures ? Age of them ? 



BAAL-GAD. 183 

« The town of Baalbek is now almost a complete 
ruin, with the walls which surrounded it, — of an irregu- 
lar quadrangle in form, — fallen in many places, and the 
inhabited abodes being of a most wretched character. 
Immense quantities of hewn stone and fragments of 
pillars, both of the common rock of the country, are 
strewn about in all directions. 

" The eye of the traveller, however, does not rest on 
their prostration and confusion, and the filth with which 
they are associated. It sees, standing up in majesty 
amidst the apocryphal Saracenic and-Turkish towers 
and walls of the fort, the proudest and grandest memo- 
rials of human architecture on which it has ever rested ; 
and it scans with wonder and astonishment the remains 
of the temples — and their courts and colonnades — of 
Heliopolis. 

" The ruins are those of a greater and lesser temple. 

« The subassement of both the temples is artificial, 
to give them a superior elevation ; and the court of the 
larger, in particular, is principally on arched vaults, to 
some of which access can now be got. The peristyles 
of the temples stand on strong masonry ; but this it has 
been intended to conceal by facings of stane, or rather 
rock, of the most prodigious size ever used in archi- 
tecture, as is evident at the western and northern ends 
of the great temple. 

'' The enormity of some of the stones of the facing 
has been often brought to notice. One stone, in the 
western wall, overlooked both bv Maundrell, and Wood 



Present condition of them ? To what edifices did the ruins 
belong ? What of the basement of them ? Facings that conceal the 
basement of the peristyles or colonnades ? Enormous size of the 
stones ? 



184 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

and Dawkins, probably because irregularly cut in the 
outer surface, though of undivided mass, is sixty-nine 
feet in length, thirteen in depth, and eighteen in 
breadth, affording altogether a block of raised rock — 
to give it in letters — of sixteen thousand one hundred 
and forty-six cubic feet. 

'' The fellow of this stone is left nearly ready cut in 
the quarry, about a quarter of an hour to the south of the 
town, to challenge posterity to come up to the deeds of 
ancestry by removing it from its position. Above the 
stone in the subassement now alluded to, there are 
other three of enormous dimensions, forming its second 
elevation, of which Wood and Daw^kins say, that they 
found the length to make together above a hundred and 
ninety feet, and separately sixty-three feet eight inches, 
sixty-four feet, and sixty-three feet. • 

^' But let us return again to our plan. We have, be- 
ginning with the east, a staircase, leading up to a grand 
portico, with chambers on each side. From the portico, 
the entrance must have been by a large and two smaller 
doors into an hexagonal court, with various little cham- 
bers and niches for idols, the pedestals of which, in 
many instances, still remain. From this court, the 
entrance is into a large quadrangular court, with simi- 
lar conveniences. 

"Passing this second court, we are at the large tem- 
ple, properly so called. Its remains, in addition to its 
lower works, consist of a colonnade of six Corinthian 
pillars of majestic size, and bearing a rich entablature. 

Length, breadth, and solid extent of these stones ? Specify the 
similar dimensions of the upper layer ? Plan of the temple ? En- 
trance ? Court within ? Quadrangular court beyond ? Colonnades 
remaining ? 



BAAL-GAD. 185 

forming altogether objects of enchanting architectural 
beauty, with looking at which the eye is never satisfied. 

'<• These columns belong to the flank of the temple, 
the original number having been nineteen, while there 
were ten in front. The bases and pedestals of the 
others are in their places. A number of the shafts are 
strewn about, generally with the three pieces of which 
they were composed separated from one another. The 
height of these pillars, including the architrave, we 
found to be seventy-five feet ten inches. Their diame- 
ter, taking the measurement between the first and 
second stones, is seven feet three inches. Their dis- 
tance from one another is eight feet seven inches. The 
temple certainly w^as never finished. 

" The ruins of Baalbek astonish every visitant. Their 
great delineators, who took only an artistic view of 
them, say: ' When we compare' them 'with those of 
many ancient cities which we visited in Italy, Greece, 
Egypt, and other parts of Asia, we cannot help thinking 
them the boldest plan we ever saw attempted in archi- 
tecture.' 

'' Speaking even of the smaller temple, Maundrell 
says : « It strikes the mind with an air of greatness be- 
yond anything that I ever saw before, and is an eminent 
proof of the magnificence of the ancient architecture.' 
Less grave and sober travellers have written of them 
with unbounded rapture. Lord Lindsay says: 'Pal- 
myra at sunrise, and Baalbek at sunset, are Claudes 
treasured in the cabinet of memory, which neither acci- 
dent can injure, nor beggary deprive one of.' 

What was the original number of columns ? Height ? Diame- 
ter ? Distance of each from the other ? Ruins compared with those 
of other countries? Impression upon Maundrell? Upon Lord 
Lindsay ? 



186 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

" So much we could say of them, viewing them 
merely as works of art ; but the remembrance of the 
object for which they were erected, sent the cold chill 
of death through our souls. When it w^as adverted to, 
it was only as ruins that we could look to them with 
any degree of satisfation. We thanked God, however, 
that in no part of the world, at present, is art in its per- 
fection sacred to the cause of Pagan idolatry, as it once 
was. May the time soon arrive when it shall no longer 
be sacred to that idolatry, disguised under the name of 
Christianity, which has taken its place at Rome." 

FIRST DISTRIBUTION TO THE TRIBES. 

Several years had now been spent in an exterminating 
warfare with the petty tribes of Canaan, thirty-one of 
whom had been subdued, and still the conquest was far 
from being complete. There remained yet very much 
land to be possessed ; the Philistines in the south-west, 
and the Geshuri south of them ; the coasts of Tyre and 
Zidon, and all the northern part of Palestine, along the 
southern extremities of Lebanon and around Hermon. 
(Josh, xiii : 4, 5, 6.) But, in view of the great age of 
Joshua, it was judged expedient to allot to the tribes 
their several portions, and leave them to complete the 
conquest of the country. 

In this distribution the portions of Judah, Ephraim, 
and the half of Manasseh, were first assigned to them ; 
when it appeared that there would not be enough re- 
maining for a just portion to the other seven tribes. 

Reflections of Dr. Wilson upon these ruins ? 

Tribes that had been conquered? Number of them? What 
remained unsubdued ? Reasons for distributing the land ? To what 
tribes was it first made ? Portion remaining for the other tribes ? 



FINAL ALL0T3IE1\'T TO THE TRIBES. 187 

The boundaries of Judah and Ephraim were accordingly 
reduced by allotting to Dan, Simeon, and Benjamin, their 
portion from the original grants to Judah and Ephraim. 
Several years, however, elapsed before the territory and 
boundaries of the tribes were determinately settled. 

FINAL ALLOTMENT TO THE TRIBES. 

The boundaries of the several tribes are given with 
great minuteness, but they cannot now be defined with 
precision. Their relative position, however, may be 
determined with a good degree of confidence. 

The Dead Sea, through its whole extent, formed the 
eastern boundary of Judah ; from thence south, up the 
valley of the Arabah as far as to Kadesh-barnea; thence 
westward across the desert to the river of Egypt, the 
present Wady El Arish, which empties into the Medi- 
terranean near the south-east corner of this sea. 

The north boundary ran from the mouth of the Jor- 
dan to Jerusalem, through the valley of Hinnom, south 
of Jerusalem, to Kirjath-jearim. Thence westward to 
Mount Seir, (not to be confounded with Seir in Edom.) 

In the second division, the south-western part of Judah 
was assigned to Simeon. Certain cities, rather than a 
determinate territory, seem to have been allotted to him. 
(Josh, xix: 1-9.) 

The territory of Benjamin was small. It extended 
up the Jordan a short distance, then westward to the 
line of Kirjath-jearim, including within its limits Bethel, 

Can the boundaries of the several tribes be defined ? Boundaries 
of Judah on the east, the south, and the west ? Northern line of 
division ? Portion of Simeon ? Relative position of this tribe ? 
Portion of Benjamin ? Principal cities and relative extent ? 



188 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Gibeon, Jerusalem, and Jericho. (Josh, xv : 5-10 ; 
xviii: 14, 19.) 

Dan was situated west of Benjamin, and extended to 
the Mediterranean, but included only a small extent 
of territory (Josh, xix: 40-48) ; or rather, like Simeon, 
the tribe had certain cities, chiefly in the northern part 
of the land of the Philistines. 

Ephraim was north of Benjamin and Dan, and ex- 
tended from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. (Josh, 
xvi; xvii: 7—10.) 

Issachar was north of Ephraim. The boundaries 
extended up the Jordan some distance, thence north- 
west to Mount Tabor, from whence they swept around 
the great plain of Esdraelon to Mount Carmel, and 
returned to the Jordan on the line of Ephraim, south of 
Gilboa. It included the most fertile and delightful 
section of country in all Palestine. 

The half-tribe of Manasseh is supposed to have 
extended west of Issachar to the Mediterranean. They 
appear also to have had certain parcels in Ephraim, 
and in Asher, and in Issachar. (Josh, xvii: 7-11.) 

Zebulun w^as north of Issachar, and west of the Sea 
of Galilee, and extended to Jokneam on Carmel. (Josh. 
xix : 10-16.) The boundaries cannot be clearly defined. 

Asher extended from Carmel north, on the Mediter- 
ranean, some distance, then receding a little from the 
coast of Tyre and Zidon, passed up by these cities upon 
the mountains of Lebanon. (Josh, xix : 24-31.) 

Naphthali was east of Asher: and extended from 

Position and extent of Ephraim ? Portion of Issachar ? What 
plain did it include ? Portion of the half-tribe of Manasseh ? Par- 
cels in other tribes ? Boundaries of Zebulun ? Of Asher ? Of 
Naphthali? 



FINAL ALLOTMENT TO THE TRIBES. 189 

Mount Hermon, beyond the sources of the Jordan, south 
by the Waters of Merom, and to Zebulun, west of the 
Sea of Galilee. (Josh xix : 31-39.) 

Of the tribes beyond Jordan, Reuben inherited the 
south country from the river Arnon, east of the Dead 
Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan, and included the cities 
of Heshbon, Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, Ja- 
haza, Kedemoth, Kirjathaim, Beth-peor, Beth-jeshimoth, 
&c. (Josh, xiii : 15-25.) 

The territory of Gad extended on the eastern bank 
of the Jordan, from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee. 
Its eastern boundary is unknown. 

The half-tribe of Manasseh were east of Gad ; and 
extended from the north-east of Reuben, along the east- 
ern boundary of Gad, and north beyond the coast of the 
Sea of Gennesareth and the Waters of Merom, on the 
borders of Naphthali, and spread out indefinitely on the 
great desert eastward. 

These tribes were in a measure independent sovereign- 
ties ; and yet confederate with one another, under the 
government of Jehovah their King. Their relations to 
each other were much like those of the tribes of Arabs 
at the present day. These have their own Sheikhs, or 
rulers, like the Israelites; like them, they are nomadic, 
but confine themselves within certain limits or districts. 
Like the Israelites, they also differ in numbers, in intel- 
ligence, in influence, and in character. The tribes dif- 

Tribes beyond Jordan ? Boundaries of Reuben ? What cities 
did they include ? Boundaries of .Gad ? Of the half-tribe of Ma- 
nasseh ? Relation of the tribes to each other? Their supreme 
ruler? How do the different tribes of Arabs compare with those 
of the Children of Israel in their nomadic life, relation, numbers, in 
intelligence, and character ? 



190 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

fered, one from the other, in all these respects. Some, 
accordingly, increased and flourished, and continued, for 
a great length of time, to maintain their distinctive cha- 
racteristics as a people; while others, by mingling with 
other tribes, sooner lost their territorial limits, and their 
identity as a tribe. 

SHILOH. 

This final division of the land was made at Shiloh, 
which Joshua had chosen as a central position, w^here 
he had set up the Tabernacle, and deposited the Ark of 
the Covenant. Here it continued more than four hundred 
years, until taken by the Philistines in the days of Eli. 
Shiloh was situated in a retired valley, near a fountain of 
water, a little east of the main road leading from Jeru- 
salem to Shechem, and about fifteen miles south of the 
latter place. Dr. Robinson has the honour of bringing to 
light this place out of the oblivion of many ages, and the 
account of it may best be given in his own words : — 

"We came at seven o'clock to the ruins of Seilun, 
surrounded by hills, but looking out through the small 
valley we had traversed, towards the plain on the south. 
Hardly five minutes before reaching the proper site, is 
an ancient ruin, a tower, or perhaps a small chapel, about 
twenty-eight feet square inside, with walls four feet thick. 
" Within are three prostrate columns, with Corinthian 
capitals lying separate. The stone which forms the 
upper part of the door- way, is ornamented on the out- 
Did the tribes retain alike their identity and character ? 
Where was the final division made ? Where was Shiloh ? How 
long did the Ark of the Covenant continue here ? What traveller has 
identified this site ? What is its present name ? What ruins are 
found here ? Dimensions and ornaments ? 



SHILOH. 191 

side with sculptured work, an amphora between two 
chaplets. Along the outer wall, a defence or buttress 
of sloping masonry has been built up, obviously at a later 
period. The Arabs call this ruin the Mosque of Seilun. 
As we came up, three startled owls flew off in dismay. 

" Our guide told us of a fountain up through the nar- 
row valley towards the east. We went thither, and 
found that the valley here breaks through a ridge, and 
is at first shut in by perpendicular walls of rock ; then 
follows a more open tract ; and here, at the left, fifteen 
minutes from Seilun, is the fountain. 

" The water is excellent ; and issues from the rocks 
first into a sort of artificial well, eight or ten feet deep; 
and thence into a reservoir lower down. Many flocks 
and herds were waiting round about. In the sides of 
the narrow valley are many excavated tombs, now much 
broken away ; near the fountain are also several tombs, 
and one in an isolated block. We returned down the 
valley, and followed it through on the north side of Seilun. 

" Here then was Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was 
set up after the country had been subdued before the 
Israelites ; and where the last and general division of 
the land was made among the tribes. (Josh, xviii: 1-10.) 
The Ark and Tabernacle long continued here ; from the 
days of Joshua during the ministry of all the Judges, 
until the close of Eli's life ; and here Samuel was dedi- 
cated to God, and his childhood spent in the Sanctuary. 
(1 Sam. chap, i — iv.) 

" In honour of the presence of the Ark, there was ^ a 

Fountain of Shiloh ? Valley and hills around it ? Quality of 
the water ? Flocks and herds around ? Excavated tombs ? His- 
torical associations ? Resting-place of the Ark and the Tabernacle ? 
Dedication and childhood of Samuel ? 



192 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



feast of the Lord in Shiloh yearly/ during which ^ the 
daughters of Shiloh came out to dance in dances ;' and 
it was on such an occasion, that they were seized and 
carried off by the remaining Benjamites as wives. (Judges 
xxi: 19-23.) 

" The scene of these dances may not improbably have 
been somewhere around the fountain above described. 
From Shiloh the Ark was at length removed to the 
army of Israel ; and being captured by the Philistines, 
returned no more to its former place. (1 Sam. chap. 
iv — vi.) 

^^ Shiloh henceforth, though sometimes the residence 
of prophets, as of Ahijah, celebrated in the history of 
Jeroboam (1 Kings xi : 29 ; xii : 15 ; xiv : 2 seq.), is 
nevertheless spoken of as forsaken and accursed of God. 
(Ps. Ixxviii : 60, seq. ; Jer. vii : 12-14 ; xxvii : 6.) 

" It is mentioned in Scripture during the exile, but 
not afterwards ; and Jerome speaks of it in his day as 
so utterly in ruins, that the foundations of an altar could 
scarcely be pointed out. (Jer. xli : 5.)" 

LEVITICAL CITIES. 

In the distribution of the tribes the Levites received 
no territorial inheritance, like the other descendants of 
Jacob ; but certain cities were assigned to them within 
the territories of their brethren respectively. (Josh, xxi : 
11 seq. ; 1 Chron. vi: 57, seq.) 

In Judah, the principal levitical city was Hebron. 
Several others in the mountains of Judah, south of 



Yearly festival ? Removal and capture of the Ark by the Philis- 
tines ? Residence of the prophets ? Subsequent notice of Shiloh ? 
Levitical cities, what ? 



LEVITICAL CITIES. 193 

Hebron, are still known. Juttah, about five miles south 
of Hebron, is now a large Mahommedan town, sur- 
rounded with trees, and said to contain old foundations 
and walls. This was probably the residence of Zacha- 
rias and Elizabeth, and the birth-place of John the 
Baptist. 

Five miles south-west from Juttah is Estemoa, a vil- 
lage situated on a low hill, with broad valleys lying 
around it. It is the first inhabited place which greets 
the traveller on coming up from the desert south of 
Judah. In many places are found walls of massive 
bevelled stones, apparently of great antiquity ; and the 
remains of an old castle of Saracen or Turkish origin. 
David sent presents to his friends, the elders of Judah, 
in this place. (1 Sam. xxx: 28.) 

Following the same south-western direction a few 
miles, we find the ruins of Ain, or Anim, as Dr. Wilson 
with greater probability supposes. In the immedi- 
ate vicinity was Jattin, now Atten. Ain, which in the 
second division fell to the lot of Simeon, was apparently 
further south toward the coast of Edom. 

Beth-shemesh was on the north-west of Judah, near 
the boundaries of Dan, sixteen miles west-by-south from 
Jerusalem. The ruins are very extensive, indicating 
that it was once a large city. A small Arab village 
has been built from these ruins, at a little distance from 
them. In the days of Samuel it was celebrated by the 

What cities belonged to the tribe of Levi ? Describe Juttah ? 
For what celebrated in subsequent history ? Describe Estemoa ? 
Ruins found here ? Where was Ain, or Anim ? Where was Jat- 
tin ? What its modern name ? 

Where was Beth-shemesh ? What remains of it are found there ? 
Jlistorical associations ? 

13 



194 HISTOKICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

return of the Ark, and the slaughter of many thousands 
for their irreverent curiosity. (1 Sam. vi: 9 seq.) It 
was the residence of one of the principal officers of Solo- 
mon. ^1 Kings iv: 9.) Amaziah, king of Judah, was 
defeated here by Jehoash, king of Israel ^2 Kings xiv : 
11, 12); it was conquered ^by the Philistines in the 
reign of Ahaz (2 Chron. xxviii : 18) ; and, after this, is 
no more mentioned in the Scriptures. 

Libnah was captured by Joshua ; and was the resi- 
dence of one of the Canaanitish kings. Under Joram 
it revolted from Judah, and afterwards was besieged by 
Sennacherib. It was situated in the plains of Judah, 
in the western division of the territory ; but its site is 
unknown. (2 Kings viii : 22; 2 Chron. xxi : 10; 2 
Kings xix : 8 ; Isa. xxxvii : 8.) Holon is totally un- 
known. Jeremiah (xlviii: 21) speaks of another in the 
Plains of Moab, equally unknown. 

Gibeon, in Benjamin, has been already mentioned. 
Anathoth, now Anata, is four miles north-east from 
Jerusalem. It is now a miserable village, but was once 
a walled town, and still retains, in its ruins, indications 
of its former importance. It is celebrated as the birth- 
place and usual residence of the prophet Jeremiah, and 
occurs in several parts of the Scriptures. (Josh, xxi : 
18 ; Jer. i : 1 ; 2 Sam. xxiii : 27 ; Ezra ii : 23 ; Neh. 
vii:27.) 

Geba lies beyond Anathoth, before coming to Mich- 
Return of the Ark ? Death of many of the inhabitants, why ? 
Defeat of Amaziah ? Capture by the Philistines ? For what was 
Libnah noted? Where situated? Present name of Anathoth? 
Condition, contrasted with its former importance ? Distance and 
direction from Jerusalem ? Celebrated for what ? Situation of 
Geba? 



LEVITICAL CITIES. 195 

mash, one mile and a half east of Ramah. Dr. Robin- 
son describes it as lying upon a low rounded eminence, 
on a broad ridge shelving down towards the valley of 
the Jordan, and forming a fine sloping plain, with fields 
of grain. The village is small and half in ruins ; among 
which are some large hewn stones, indicating great 
antiquity. There is a square tower, almost solid, and 
an ancient building, having the appearance of a small 
church. 

Beth-horon has been already mentioned. 

Gezer or Gazer was a border city between Dan and 
Ephraim (Josh, xxi : 25), north-west of Beth-horon, at 
a short distance. It w^as a celebrated battle-field in the 
wars with the Philistines (2 Sam. v : 25 ; 1 Chron. xv: 
16 ; xxi : 4) ; it was fortified by Solomon (1 Kings ix : 
16, 17), and became in the time of the Maccabees the 
scene of many severe conflicts (1 Mac. iv : 15; viii : 
45; ix: 52; xiii: 43). 

Taanach is noticed in another connexion. 

Dabareh is now a small village at the base of Mount 
Tabor, on the western side. Jarmuth of Issachar is 
unknown. There was also a town of this name in the 
plains of Judah. (Josh, xv : 35.) 

Kedesh of Naphthali was twenty miles east of Tyre, 
on the heights north of Safet, and west of the Waters 
of Merom. It was a city of refuge, and the birth-place 
of Barak. (Judges iv: 6.) It was captured by Tiglath- 
Pileser. (2 Kings xv : 29.) It has been explored by 

The modern village ? Ruins found here ? Ancient tower ? Ge- 
zer, where situated ? Battles with the Philistines here ? Fortified 
by whom? Celebrated in the time of the Maccabees, for what? 
Where was Dabareh ? Where was Kedesh ? For what distin- 
guished ? Who was Barak ? 



196 HISTORICAL GEOGBAPHY. 

American missionaries, who found here only an incon- 
siderable villa o;e, 

Golan of Manasseh was a city of Bashan, east of the 
Sea of Galilee, which gave its name to the province of 
Gaulonitis. It was a city of refuge. 

Ramoth or Ramoth-Gilead was on the borders of 
Gad. It was one of the cities of refuge (Josh, xx: 8), 
and one of the towns in which Solomon stationed an 
intendant (1 Kings iv : 13). It was evidently a strong 
place, the last of their conquests ^hich the Assyrians 
surrendered. 

Ahab was slain here by a bow drawn at a venture, 
whilst engaged in battle for the mastery of the place 
(1 Kings xxii. ; 2 Chron. xviii.); and Joram, his son, 
fourteen years after, was wounded in a similar effort 
(2Kingsviii: 28). Each sought a confederacy with 
the contemporary king of Judah ; an alliance never 
formed between the kings of those rival nations on any 
other occasion, except in a single instance. 

Here Jehu was anointed king over Israel by the 
prophet Ehsha, and began his exterminating warfare 
against the house of Ahab. (2 Kings ix.) 

The site of Ramoth-Gilead has been referred by con- 
jecture to that of the village of Salt, a few miles south 
of the river Jabbok, and about the same distance east 
of Jordan. It is an isolated hill, surrounded on all sides 
by steep and barren mountains, from which it is sepa- 
rated by a narrow valley. This hill is crowned with a 

The present condition of Kedesh ? Where was Golan ? To what 
province did it give a name ? Ramoth-Gilead, where situated ? 
Celebrated for what in the history of Solomon ? Of Ahab ? Of 
Joram ? Alliances between the kings of Judah and Israel ? 
Anointment of Jehu ? Modern name of the supposed site of Ra- 
moth-Gilead ? Village of Salt ? 



CITIES OF EEFUGE. 197 

castle for the defence of the plain ; and the houses rise 
one above the other along the steep declivity of the hill, 
as if pressing up to the castle for protection from the 
wandering Arabs, who rove for plunder over all this 
desolate and forsaken region. 

It is only in such mountain retreats that the people 
are safe from the thievish propensities of the Arabs, or 
the extortions of Turkish officers. 

CITIES OF REFUGE. 

Moses had made provision for the establishment of 
six cities, as places of refuge, to which one who had 
accidentally caused the death of another might flee, as 
an asylum from the avenger of blood. It was a merci- 
ful provision to protect the innocent against the hasty 
and unjust consequences of the established rights of 
blood-revenge, and to encourage a mild forgiving spirit. 
The laws on this subject, as given in the references, 
sufficiently illustrate the nature of this peculiar right of 
revenge, and the merciful provision of these cities of 
refuge. (Exod. xxi: 13; Num. xxxv: 9-35; Deut. 
xix : 1-13 ; Josh, xx : 7-9.) 

These cities were situated, three on the w^est side of 
Jordan, and three on the east ; at convenient distances 
from north to south, on a line running through the cen- 
tral portions of the eastern and western territory of the 
tribes. These in Canaan were Kedesh of Naphthali, 
Shechem, and Hebron. Beyond Jordan, Golan, Ra- 

The castle ? Insecurity of the inhabitants ? To what exposed ? 

Object of cities of refuge ? Right of revenge, what ? How many 
cities of refuge ? How situated ? What cities of refuge in Canaan ? 
What beyond Jordan ? 



198 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

moth-Gilead, and Bezer in Reuben, east^ of the Dead 
Sea, of which nothing more is known. 

In order to give the fugitive all possible advantage, 
the rabbins relate that the Sanhedrim were required to 
make the roads that led to the cities of refuge conve- 
nient by enlarging them, and removing every obstruc- 
tion that might hurt the foot of the fugitive, or injure 
his speed. No hillock was left, no river was allowed 
over which there w^as not a bridge ; and at every turn 
there were posts erected w^ith panne] s, pointing in the 
right direction, and bearing the words. Refuge^ Refuge^ 
to guide the unhappy man in his flight. 

DEATH OF JOSHUA. 

After the distribution of the land, and the dismissal 
of the tribes beyond Jordan, Joshua appears to have re- 
tired to his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, in the 
mountains of Ephraim, and to have passed there the 
remainder of his days in quietness. After the lapse of 
some twenty years, and just before his death, he sum- 
moned two convocations of the people ; one at Shiloh, 
where he delivered to them his parting charge (Josh, 
xxiii) ; and another at Shechem, where the blessing and 
the curse had formerly been announced to the tribes 
standing on Ebal and Gerizim. 

On this occasion he caused the covenant, by which 
the Lord had become their sovereign (Deut. xxvii ; 
Josh, viii: 30-35; Josh, xxiv; 28; Comp. Gen. xii: 6), 
to be solemnly acknowledged and renewed ; and caused 

What facilities to aid the flight of the fugitive ? 

Inheritance of Joshua ? Manner of life in his old age ? His as- 
semhly of the people at Shiloh ? For what purpose ? For what 
purpose at Shechem ? 



EXTERMINATION OF THE CANAANITES. 199 

a record of it to be made in the Book of the Law. He also 
erected a pillar, as a standing memorial of it, under an 
oak near the place of this solemn transaction. It had 
been consecrated by the prayers of Abraham, and by 
sacred associations had become a sanctuary to them, i 
Soon after these solemn rites and charges to the peo- 
ple, this venerable Patriarch and Leader of Israel died, 
1516 B. C, aged one hundred and ten years, and was 
buried on the border of his inheritance, in Timnath- 
serah. 

EXTERMINATION OF THE CANAANITES. 

In answer to the objections that have been frequently 
urged to the forcible occupation of Canaan, and the 
extermination of the inhabitants by the Israelites, it is 
sufficient to observe that they acted by direct authority 
of Jehovah, the King of nations. 

These tribes had wearied the long-suffering of God 
by their sins. Their iniquity was now full ; and the 
day of vengeance had fully come. Their extermination 
was necessary for the accomplishment of the Divine 
purpose in making the descendants of Abraham the de- 
positaries of His word, and preserving among them a 
pure religion. 

They were to be wholly dispossessed of the land ; 
but they were at liberty to emigrate to other lands, and 
many of them are said to have colonized on the north- 
ern coast of Africa. Many ages after these events there 
are said to have been found two pillars in a town in 

Memorials of it at Shechem ? Age of Joshua ? Date of his death ? 
His burial-place ? 

Extermination of Canaanites ? How vindicated ? Why necessary ? 
Were they necessarily subject to death ? Did any emigrate ? What 
colonies did they establish ? What memorials of this event ? 



200 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Numidia, on which were inscribed, in Phoenician cha- 
racters, these w^ords : <' We are of those who fled from 
the arms of Joshua, the robber, the son of Naue." 

ISRAELITES AND CANAANITES AFTER THE DEATH OF JOSHUA. 

After the death of Joshua the children of Israel ceased 
their exterminating warfare with the Canaanites, and 
contented themselves with making them vassals. They 
even proceeded to contract marriages with them, and 
thus spread a snare for their own feet, in which they 
were soon entangled. They sunk into idolatry, and into 
the shocking licentiousness and debaucheries with which 
the idolatry of Canaan was characterized. 

Of these idolatries we have a remarkable instance, in 
the case of Micah and the Danites. (Judges xvii — xviii.) 
This story, though placed at the end of the book as a 
kind of supplement, belongs to a very early period in 
the history of the Judges. A party of this tribe from 
Zorah and Eshtaol, on the plains of Judah, west of 
Jerusalem, dissatisfied with their inheritance, go forth 
to establish a colony in the northern frontiers of the land. 
On their w^ay through the mountains of Ephraim, they 
steal from Micah, at Kirjath-jearim, his idolatrous 
images, and establish his idolatry in Laish, the city of 
their conquest, to which they give the name of Dan. 

This was situated a few miles north of the Waters of 
Merom, the modern El-Huleh, and near the fountains 
already described as one of the head waters of Jordan. 



Treatment of the Canaanites after the death of Joshua ? Conse- 
quences of intercourse with them ? Story of Micah and the Dan- 
ites ? Historical order of it ? Reasons for settling the colony ? 
Journey of the colonists? Where was Kirjath-jearim? What 
theft did they commit here ? Where did they settle ? 



BOOK OF JUDGES, 201 

The idolatry which was introduced prepared the place 
to become, several hundred years later, the chief seat 
of Jeroboam's worship of the golden calf. (1 Kings xii : 
29.) It was overrun by the Syrians in their invasion 
(1 Kings XV : 20 ; 2 Chron. xvi : 4), and is celebrated 
as the northern limit of Palestine, in the common ex- 
pression, " from Dan to Beer-sheba.'^ 

The mustering of the hosts of Israel to avenge the hor- 
rible atrocity at Gibeah, was at Mizpeh, about six or 
seven miles north-west from Jerusalem. Gibeah occu- 
pied a conical hill, three miles south-east of this city, and 
the same distance from Jerusalem. These data are suf- 
ficient to direct us to the scene of that dreadful carnage 
by which the tribe of Benjamin was almost exterminated. 

Rimmon, to which the remnant fled, is a high, 
chalky, naked peak, about fifteen miles north-by-east 
from Jerusalem, and about half this distance from Gib- 
eah, in the same direction. 



-♦♦- 



CHAPTER VII. 

JUDGES AND RUTH. 
B. C. 1516—1117. 

The office of the Judges was very peculiar. They 
were not kings ; for Jehovah was the invisible king of 
the Jews, whose decrees and instructions w^ere given by 

Idolatry at Laish ? Dan under Jeroboam ? Overthrow in the 
Syrian invasion ? 

Where was Mizpeh ? For what remarkable ? Situation of Gib- 
eah ? Slaughter of Benjamin ? Appearance and position of the rock 
Rimmon ? For what remarkable ? 



202 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

the Urim and Thummim. Neither were the Judges 
heads of the tribes, but persons who, by their virtues, 
exercised a presiding influence, more or less extensive, 
over the people. Their office, and the condition of the 
people under them, is clearly presented in the following 
extract from Dr. Jahn : — 

^^ That madness of debauchery which was exhibited 
in the city of Gibeah, and the protection which the 
tribe of Benjamin afforded the criminals in opposition 
to all the other tribes (Judges xix — xx), displays the 
true source of so obstinate an attachment to an idolatry 
that consecrated such vices, and which must have had 
many adherents among the Benjamites at the time of 
Phinehas, soon after the death of Joshua. 

^^ The other tribes, however, were as yet more piously 
disposed, and idolatry was not openly tolerated till that 
generation was extinct which, under Joshua, had sworn 
anew to the covenant with Jehovah. After that, the 
rulers were unable or unwilling any longer to prevent 
the public worship of pagan deities. 

'' But the Hebrews, rendered effeminate by this 
voluptuous religion, and forsaken by their king Jehovah, 
were no longer able to contend with their foes, and were 
forced to bow their necks under a foreign yoke. In 
this humiliating and painful subjection to a conquering 
people, they called to mind their deliverance from 
Egypt, the ancient kindnesses of Jehovah, the promises 
and threatenings of the law; they forsook their idols, 

W^ho was the Supreme Ruler of the Jews? What was the office 
of the Judges negatively ? What tribe was first infected with idol- 
atry ? Evidence of this ? At what time did Phinehas live ? How 
long before the other tribes were infected with the same sin ? 
Causes of their subjection to a foreign yoke ? Effect of this dis- 
cipline ? 



BOOK OF JUDGES. 203 

who could afford them no assistance, returned to the 
sacred tabernacle, and then found a deliverer who freed 
them from the yoke of servitude. 

^' The reformation generally was of no longer duration 
than the life of the deliverer. As soon as that genera- 
tion was extinct, idolatry again crept in by the same 
way, and soon became predominant. Then followed 
subjection and oppression under the yoke of a neigh- 
bouring people, till a second reformation prepared them 
for a new deliverance. 

^^ Between these extremes of prosperity and adversity, 
as the consequences of their fidelity or treachery to the 
king Jehovah, the Hebrew nation was continually 
fluctuating till the time of Samuel. Such were the 
arrangements of Providence, that as soon as idolatry 
gained the ascendancy, some one of the neighbouring 
people grew powerful, acquired the preponderance, and 
subjected the Hebrews. 

^' Jehovah always permitted their oppressions to be- 
come sufficiently severe to arouse them from their 
slumbers, to remind them of the sanctions of the law, 
and to turn them again to their God and King. Then 
a hero arose, who inspired the people with courage, 
defeated their foes, abolished idolatry, and re-established 
in their hearts the authority of Jehovah. (Judges ii — vi.) 

«^ As the Hebrews in the course of time became 
continually more obstinate in their idolatry, so each 
subsequent oppression of the nation was always greater 
and more severe than the preceding. So difficult was 

Was their reformation lasting? What consequences followed 
their idolatry ? How long did this continue ? Did God permit 
them to be entirely subjugated ? How were they released from 
their several oppressions ? 



204 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

it, as mankind were then situated, to preserve on earth 
a knowledge of the true God, though so repeatedly and 
so expressly revealed, and in so high a degree made 
evident to the senses." 

The conquests mentioned in the first chapter of 
Judges were antecedent to the death of Joshua. The 
situation of Bezek is unknown. 

Zephath (Judges i : 17), already noticed, was one of 
the ^'uttermost cities of Judah towards the coast of 
Edom southwards," where the repentant Israelites were 
repulsed, with severe loss, in their rash attempt to go 
up and possess the land, after having been sentenced 
to die in the wilderness for their impatient unbelief. 

The towns in Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, 
and Naphthali, in which these tribes suffered the Ca- 
nannites still to dwell, have either been already mention- 
ed, or are unknown. 

The situation of Bochim, where the angel rebuked the 
people for their remissness (Judges ii), is wholly conjec- 
tural. It was probably near Shiloh. 

Their first servitude, about thirty years after the death 
of Joshua, was of eight years' continuance, under a king 
of Mesopotamia, the native country of Abraham. 0th- 
niel, their deliverer, was from Debir (Judges iii: 1-11), 
in the south-western part of Judea. 

Their next conquerors came from beyond Jordan and 
the country east of the Dead Sea. They seem to have 
contented themselves w4th the conquest of " the city of 

Describe the conquest of Bezek? Of Zephath ? Describe the 
rebuke at Bochim ? First servitude, how long after the death of 
Joshua? Under what king? Continuance? Who was their de- 
liverer ? His residence ? Whence came their next conquerors ? 
How far did their conquest extend ? 



BOOK OF JUDGES. 205 

palm-trees" in the plains of Jericho, 1438 B. C. Their 
deliverer was Ehud, from Benjamin, a few miles west of 
Jericho, 1420 B. C. (Judges iii : 11-30.) 

The Israelites next found a formidable foe in the per- 
son of Jabin, king of Hazor, on the northern frontiers 
of Palestine. Near two hundred years before, Joshua 
had subdued a powerful prince of this name ; but in this 
space of time this family had again become powerful. 
Deborah, a prophetess, between Bethel and Ramah, in- 
stigates Barak of Kedesh in Naphthali, west of the 
Sea of Merom and in the immediate vicinity of Hazor 
itself, to collect an army from the neighbouring tribes of 
Naphthali and Zebulun. These muster at Mount Tabor, 
on the southern border of Zebulun and eastern side of 
the plain of Esdraelon, where Sisera gives him battle, 
and is defeated and slain, B. C. 1320. (Judges iv — v.) 

The oppression of Midian, and deliverance by Gideon, 
of the tribe of Manasseh, are briefly and clearly sketched 
by Jahn : — 

" The Midianites, united with the Amalekites and 
other nomadic Arabians, during seven years poured 
into Palestine in great numbers, and with their numerous 
herds trampled down all the fields, gardens and vine- 
yards without distinction, seized the cattle, plundered 
men and houses, and rioted in the country as the 
Bedouin Arabs are accustomed to do at the present day 
when not restrained by force. 

'' This chastisement, the duration of which is not 

Who was their deliverer ? Third captivity, under whom ? How 
long after Joshua? Residence of Deborah ? Her influence as Judge ? 
Rendezvous of the army ? From what tribes collected ? Date and 
result of the battle ? Oppression by the Midianites, how exercised ? 
By whom were they joined ? 



206 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

mentioned, was evidently far more distressing than any- 
thing which had occurred before. The emigration of 
Elimelech, the father-in-law of Ruth, probably took 
place at this time. (Ruth i : 1, 2.) 

' ' The great deliverer from this oppression was Gideon, 
of the tribe of Manasseh. The stratagem by which he 
obtained a decisive victory is well known. Two Mid- 
ianite chiefs, Oreb and Zeeb,were taken prisoners and 
put to death. Two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, fled ; 
but they were pursued, overtaken, and likewise suffered 
death. Of the numerous army of the Midianites, one 
hundred and twenty thousand were left dead on the 
field of battle, and only fifteen thousand saved them- 
selves by flight. 

" Gideon magnanimously rejected the proffer of 
hereditary royalty, which the rulers, in the warmth of 
their gratitude, had made him. ' Not I,' replied he, 
in the true spirit of the theocracy, ' not I, nor my son, 
but Jehovah shall reign over you.' 

"The Shechemites, indeed, after his death, elevated 
one of his sons to the throne, and he, too, the most 
abandoned wretch of the whole family. They also 
built an idolatrous temple, but they suffered merited 
punishment from their own king, and their temple was 
destroyed by fire. (Judges vi — ix.) 

" The Hebrews now remained unmolested by foreign 
enemies forty-three years, excluding the period of the 
Midianitish oppression." 

Emigration of Elimelech? AVho delivered them from this op- 
pression ? To what tribe did he belong ? By what stratagem was 
the victory obtained ? Number of the slain and of the- survivors ? 
Magnanimity of Gideon i Promotion of his son by the Shechem- 
ites ? Consequences of it ? Character of his son ? Continuance 
of the peace that followed ? 



BOOK OF JUDGES. 207 

These Midianites came up from the country south and 
east of the Dead Sea. The scene of their encampment 
was the famous valley of Jezreel, between the mountains 
of Gilboa and Little Hermon. In their flight they fled 
down this valley by Beth-shittah (Judges vi ; vii ; viii ; 
ix), or Beth-shean, Abel-meholah, and Succoth, to the 
Jordan, beyond which their princes, Zebah and Zalmun- 
na, were captured near Karkor. 

The servitude under the Midianites, the administration 
of Gideon, and the reign of his unworthy son Abimelech, 
include the space of fifty years, from 1280 to 1230 B. C. 

Of Shamir, the residence of Tola, 1230 B. C.,we 
only know that it was in the territory of Issachar, in the 
mountains of Ephraim. (Judges x: 1, 2.) 

Jair, 1207 B. C, lived in Gilead, over against the 
mountains of Ephraim, beyond Jordan. (Judges x: 3-5.) 

Jephthah, 1167 B. C, also judged Israel in Gilead, 
beyond Jordan. He had been living for some years the 
life of a wild Arab chieftain, in the unknown country 
of Tob, beyond the confines of the tribes, whence he 
was recalled for the deliverance of his countrymen. 

Mizpeh is supposed by some to be the place where 
Laban set up a heap of stones. (Gen. xxxi : 49.) By 
others it is supposed to be different; we only know that 
it was in Gilead. From thence Jephthah pursued the 
enemy south-east to Minnoth, near Heshbon. 

Country of the Midianites? Site of the battle ? Course of their 
retreat ? What space is included from the conquest by the Midian- 
ites to the end of Abimelech's reign ? History of Shamir ? His 
residence ? Date of his presidency ? History of Jair ? His resi- 
dence and the date of his office ? Story of Jephthah ? Native 
country ? Manner of life ? Whence called ? His victory, and the 
tragical death of his daughter ? Historical associations of Mizpeb ? 
Course of the pursuit of the enemy ? 



208 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Ibzan, 1161 B. C, dwelt at Bethlehem. (Judges xii: 
8.) Elon, 1158 B. C, in Ajalon, a few miles north- 
west of Jerusalem, in Zebulun. Eli is now high-priest. 

Of the residence of Abdon, 1144 B. C, w^e only 
know that it was in Pirathon, in the land of Ephraim, in 
the mount of the Amalekites. (Judges xi : 15.) 

Samson, 1136 B. C, This remarkable personage, 
equally distinguished for his great bodily strength, his 
moral infirmities, and his tragical end, w^as born at 
Zorah, in the tribe of Dan. 

'It is still recognised, situated upon a high hill, on the 
western line of the mountains of Judah, sixteen miles 
west of Jerusalem. It overlooks, on the south, a fine 
deep valley that comes out of the mountains, and com- 
mands a wide prospect of the great plain beyond, on 
the south and west. (Judges xiii.) 

Timnath, the scene of the next chapter, lay in full 
view on the plain below, three or four miles south-west 
from Zorah. (Judges xiv.) 

Askelon was on the coast of the Mediterranean, 
nearly midway between Gaza and Ashdod, and thirty- 
seven miles west- south- west from Jerusalem. It was 
the birth-place of Herod the Great, who adorned it with 
fountains, baths, and colonnades. It is particularly 
conspicuous in the history of the crusades, at which 
period its harbour was closed, and the place reduced 
to ruins. 

Rev. Mr. Smith, who visited it in 1827, describes it 

Time and native place of Ibzan ? Of Elon ? Of Abdon ? Date 
and place of Samson's administration ? Remarkable incidents in 
the life and character of Samson ? Place of his birth ? Distance 
and bearing from Jerusalem ? Romantic situation of it ? Situation 
of Timnath ? Incidents there ? Situation of Askelon ? Historical 
incidents and associations ? 



BOOK OF JUDGES. 209 

as one of the most mournful scenes of utter desolation 
he had ever beheld. Thick, massive walls flanked with 
towers, built on the top of a ridge of rock that encircles 
the town, and terminates at each end in the sea, attest 
the strength and former grandeur of the place. 

Etam, the stronghold to which Samson retired ^Judges 
XV : 8), is supposed by some to have been in the vi- 
cinity of a town of the same name, a mile or two south 
of Bethlehem, which was ornamented by Solomon, and 
fortified by Rehoboam (1 Chron. iv: 3, 32; 2 Chron. 
xi : 6). Others suggest that it may have been the 
Frank Mountain, east of Bethlehem. 

We next find Samson fearlessly lodging in Gaza, the 
principal city of the Philistines, and bearing away the 
gates of the city by an eSbrt of more than mortal power ; 
and then again, in the valley of Sorek, a victim to the 
blandishments of Delilah. (Judges xvi.) 

This valley, according to Von Raumer, has its outlet 
at Askelon, where it discharges a small stream of wa- 
ter. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of this city, then, 
in just judgment for his folly, he is shorn of his strength 
and led captive and blind to Gaza, to grind in the pri- 
son-house of his enemies ; where, bowing himself down 
in the greatness of his returning strength, when led 
out for the diversion of the people assembled at a great 
festival of their god Dagon, he tore away the solid foun- 
dations of their temple, and perished, with multitudes 
of his insulting foes, beneath its ruins. 

Present appearance and condition of Askelon ? Incidents at 
Etam? Conjectures respecting this place? Sampson at Gaza? 
Blandishments of Delilah ? Valley of Sorek, where ? His capti- 
vity, and tragical death ? 
14 



210 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

BOOK OF RUTH. 

This delightful pastoral belongs to the period of the 
Judges ; perhaps to the times of Jephthah. The husband 
of Naomi, during a famine, removes from Bethlehem to 
the land of Moab, lying south-east of the Dead Sea. 
After a few years Naomi returns, in deep poverty and 
affliction, to her kindred at Bethlehem, having buried 
in that foreign country her husband and her two sons. 

Ruth, the wife of one of the sons, returns with her 
aged mother-in-law, saying : ''Whither thou goest I 
will go ; and where thou lodgest I will lodge ; thy peo- 
ple shall be my people, and thy God my God." Soon 
after their return to Bethlehem, Ruth is married to Boaz, 
a rich relative of her deceased husband. By this mar- 
riage this Moabitish woman becomes the ancestor of 
David, and of David's greater Son, our Lord and Sa- 
viour. 



-♦♦- 



CHAPTER VIII. 

SAMUEL AND SAUL. 

B. C. 1137—1056. 

Eli, an amiable and pious man, but weak and inef- 
ficient, was high-priest at Shiloh, during the adminis- 
tration of the last three Judges of Israel, Elon, Abdon, 

To what period does the book of Ruth belong? Removal of Na- 
omi's family ? Circumstances of her return ? VV"ho of her family 
survived, and who deceased ? Who was Ruth ? Who was Boaz ? 
Circumstances of their marriage ? Relation to David, and to Da- 
vid's greater Son ? 

Who and what was Eli ? During whose administration ? 



RAM AH. 211 

and Samson, from 1157 to 1117 B. C. Samson must 
have been born about the time of the commencement 
of Eli's ministry. The death of Eli, on hearing of that 
of his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and the cap- 
ture of the Ark by the Philistines, occurred a short 
time previous to the death of Samson, 1117 B. C. (1 
Sam. iv.) 

The return of the Ark, after a captivity of seven 
months, coincided very nearly with the death of Sam- 
son. Samuel was born during Eli's ministry, and could 
not have been more than twenty years old at the death 
of Eli and Samson. He was a child of prayer and 
promise, devoted to the service of God from the begin- 
ning, and reared up to be a deliverer of his people ; 
second only to Moses, in the importance of his services 
and the moral grandeur of his character as a ruler and 
judge, and as a prophet of the Lord. 

RAMATHAIM-ZOPHIM, RAMAH. 

Samuel was born at Ramathaim-zophim, in Mount 
Ephraim, which is also supposed to have been the place 
of his residence and of his burial. But the researches 
of travellers, and the inquiries of the learned, have en- 
tirely failed to give any satisfactory location to this 
favourite residence of the prophet. 

Saul, in his circuit in search of the stray asses of his 
father, visited Samuel at Ramah, and in returning from 
thence to Gibeah, his native place, some few miles 

Where was Samson born ? Circumstances and date of Eli^s 
death ? Return of the Ark ? Manner, date, and place of its return ? 
Age of Samuel at the death of Eli and Samson ? History of Samuel ? 
Consecration to the service of the Lord ? His character ? His 
birth-place, supposed place of residence, and death? Circumstances 
of Saul's visit to Samuel ? Course of Saul in returning ? 



212 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

north of Jerusalem, his course would lead him by 
Rachel's sepulchre at Bethlehem, five miles south of 
Jerusalem. This would seem to imply that the prophet 
dwelt somewhere yet further south of this city, among 
the mountains of Judah, instead of Mount Ephraim. 

To reconcile these difficulties, Gesenius supposes 
the prophet's residence to have been near the Frank 
Mountain, at a short distance south-east of Bethlehem. 
Dr. Robinson identifies it with Soba, a few miles west 
of Jerusalem. Others locate it further south, to- 
wards Hebron ; and others again contend that Rachel's 
sepulchre must have been, not at Bethlehem, but in 
Mount Ephraim ; and that Ramah is still further north 
in the same mountain. Amid these conflicting opin- 
ions, we remain in total uncertainty respecting the site 
of Ramathaim-zophim of Samuel. 

Ramah, however, is a name of frequent occurrence 
in the Scriptures; and it may be well to bring together, 
in comparison, the several places which bore this name. 

Besides the Ramah of Samuel, of which we have 
spoken, there was a Ramah in Benjamin, six miles 
north of Jerusalem, and near Geba. Its ruins, Er-Ram, 
identified by Dr. Robinson, lie upon a high hill, a little 
east of the main road leading from Jerusalem to Samaria 
and Galilee, occupying a very conspicuous station, and 
commanding a wide prospect. 

Ramah was fortified by Baasha, king of Israel, 
B. C. 933, and was soon destroyed by Ben-hadad of 

Apparent situation of Ramah? Opinion of Gesenius respecting 
it ? Of Dr. Robinson, and others ? Conjecture respecting Rachel's 
tomb ? Ramah in Benjamin, where situated ? Modern name ? Ap- 
pearance of the ruins ? Ramah, when and by whom fortified ? 
When and by whom destroyed ? 



APHEK. 213 

Syria, a confederate of Asa, king of Judah. (1 Kings 
XV : 17; 2 Chron. xvi : 1.) It is described by Isaiah 
as thrown into consternation at the approach of the As- 
syrians. (Isa. x: 29.) Here also was heard the voice of 
lamentation and weeping, Rachel weeping for her chil- 
dren and refusing to be comforted. (Jer. xxxi: 15; 
Matt, ii : 18.) 

There was also a Ramah on the borders of Naphthali 
and Asher, south-east from Tyre. (Josh, xix: 29,36.) 

Mention is made of another Ramah in Gilead, east 
of Jordan. (2 Kings viii : 29.) The same as Ramoth- 
Gilead, which has been already described. 

South Ramoth belonged to Simeon in the land of 
Judah. (1 Sam. xxx: 27.) 

The birth of Samuel, his consecration as a Nazarite 
to the service of God, and his call to be a Prophet of 
the Lord, are detailed with clearness in the Scriptures. 
(1 Sam. i, ii, iii.) 

APHEK. 

The battle between the Philistines and the Israelites, 
when the Ark was taken, was fought in Aphek (1 Sam. 
iv: 1, seq.), near Ebenezer, the stone which Samuel 
afterwards erected near Mizpeh, in commemoration of 
a victory over the Philistines (1 Sam. vii: 12). This 
was apparently near the borders of Judah and Benja- 
min, not far from Jerusalem, and is to be distinguished 

Prophetic description of it by Isaiah ? Lamentation of Rachel 
at Ramah ? Occasion of it ? What is said of Ramah in Naphthali ? 
Where situated? What is said of Ramah in Gilead ? With what 
identical ? Where was South Ramoth ? What is said of it ? 

What battle at Aphek? Where was it? What and where was 
Ebenezer ? What battle did it commemorate ? Where was the 
second Aphek ? 



214 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

from Aphek in the valley of Jezreel, near Endor, where 
the Philistines had their camp before their victory over 
Saul. (1 Sam. xxix.) 

There was a third Aphek, situated high upon the 
mountains east of the Sea of Galilee, on the road from 
Damascus to the Hauran, a part of ancient Bashan. Here 
Ben-hadad was captured by Ahab. (1 Kings xx: 
26-30.) 

There was a fourth Aphek, in Asher, eastward of 
Zidon. (Josh, xix: 30; Judges i: 31 ; Josh, xiii: 4.) 

ASHDOD. 

Ashdod, the city of the Philistines, to which the Ark 
was taken, was situated on the coast of the Mediterra- 
nean, eighteen miles north-by-east of Gaza, and nearly 
midway between that city and Joppa, and at equal dis- 
tances between Askelon and Ekron. It is now a small 
village, on a grassy hill, overspread with ruins and 
surrounded with woods, but once a place of great im- 
portance. 

It was captured by the king of Assyria in the days 
of Isaiah (Isa. xx : 1.), B. C. 718, and afterwards sus- 
tained a siege by Psammetichus, king of Egypt, of twenty- 
nine years, which is the longest siege on record. It was 
frequently the subject of prophetic denunciation (Jer. 
XXV : 20 ; Amos i: 8 ; iii: 9 ; Zeph. ii : 4; Zech. ix : 6), 
and was afterwards destroyed by the Maccabees, B. C. 
163 (1 Mac. V : 68 ; x : 71-88 ; xi : 4). Philip was 

Where was the third Aphek ? Battle here ? Where was the 
fourth Aphek ? What is said of it ? 

Situation of Ashdod ? Present condition and former importance ? 
When and by whom captured ? Length of the siege ? Prophetic 
denunciations against it? When and by whom destroyed? On 
what occasion visited by Philip ? 



GATH. 215 

carried by the Spirit here, after baptizing the Ethiopian 
eunuch. (Acts viii : 40.) It subsisted many years after- 
wards as a miserable village. 

GATH. 

From Ashdod the Ark was removed to Gath, of which 
frequent mention is made in the history of the kings of 
Israel and Judah. Goliath of Gath has made us familiar 
with its name from early childhood. (1 Sam. xvii.) Da- 
vid, soon after the death of Goliath, fled himself to Gath, 
where he found protection from Saul for a year and four 
months. (1 Sam. xxviii: 3). ^^ Tell it not in Gath,'' is 
his pathetic lamentation over Saul and Jonathan, from 
which place he would conceal their fall. (2 Sam. i: 20.) 

It was afterwards conquered and fortified by him, and 
also by Rehoboam. (2 Sam. viii : 1 ; 1 Chron. xviii: 1 J 
2 Chron. xi : S.) David, when he fled from Absalom, 
had six hundred faithful attendants from this city. (2 
Sam. XV : 19.) Under Jehoash, Hazael king of Syria 
took Gath (2 Kings xii: 17), which again was recovered 
from Ben-hadad his successor (2 Kings xiii: 24). Uzziah 
broke down its walls, 760 B. C, after which it seems 
not to have recovered its former strength. Amos adverts 
to its fallen greatness. (Amos vi : 2.) But the conflict 
which it sustained for three hundred years with the kings 
of Judah, attests the strength of this city of the Philistines. 

Modern travellers make no mention of Gath. It has 
no longer a name or a place among the habitations of 
men. 

Removal of the Ark to Gath ? Story of Goliath of Gath ? Occa- 
sion of David's flight to Gath ? Pathetic mention of Gath by David ? 
By v^^hom fortified ? Attendants of David from it ? Capture by 
Hazael ? Recovery from Ben-hadad ? How^ mentioned by Amos ? 
Evidence of its great strength ? What is known of its situation ? 



216 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

We next trace the Ark from Gath to Ekron, on the 
northern borders of Judah. We are indebted to Dr, 
Robinson for identifying this city. It is now a small 
Moslem village, built of unburnt bricks or mud, and 
situated on an eminence, near a ridge of hills that run 
out from the mountains into the great western plain on 
the northern frontiers of the ancient land of the Philis- 
tines. 

"The ancient Ekron," says Dr. Robinson, '^was at 
first assigned to Judah, as upon its border, but was af- 
terwards apparently given to Dan, though conquered 
by Judah. 

'« It afterwards became remarkable in connexion with 
the return of the Ark by the Philistines, which was sent 
back from Ekron upon a new cart, drawn by tw^o milch- 
kine. These, being left to their own course, took the 
straight way to Beth-shemesh, the nearest point of en- 
trance to the mountains of Judah. (1 Sam. v: 10 ; vi: 
1-18.) 

«' In coming, therefore, from Ain Shems to Akir, we 
might almost be said to have followed the track of the 
cart on which the Ark was sent back. 

<« After David's victory over Goliath, in Wady Es- 
Sumt, the Philistines were pursued to Ekron ; and, at 
a later day, the prophets utter denunciations against it 
along with the other cities of the Philistines." (1 Sam. 
xvii : 52 ; Jer. xxv : 20 ; Amos i : 8 ; Zeph. ii ; 4 ; 
Zech. ix : 5, 7.) 

Where was Ekron? By whom has it been identified? Present 
condition? To what tribes assigned ? For what remarkable in the 
return of the Ark ? How was the Ark sent ? Mention of Ekron 
in connexion with David's victory over Goliath? Prophetic denun- 
ciations against it ? 



MIZPEH. 217 

From Ekron, the Ark was returned to Beth-shemesh. 
The situation of this place, and the fatal consequences 
of this return of the Ark^ have been noticed in another 
connexion. 

KIRJATH-JEARIM. 

Kirjath-jearim now becomes the resting-place of the 
Ark. This town is nine miles north-west from Jerusa- 
lem, and about the same distance north-east of Beth- 
shemesh. The town is built on terraces, on the side 
of a hill; and had formerly a convent of the Minorites 
and a Latin church. This is now partly in ruins, but it 
is still one of the most substantial in Palestine. The 
place, however, is chiefly distinguished as having been 
the depository of the Ark for the space of seventy years, 
until it w^as removed to Jerusalem by David, 1049 
B. C. (2 Sam. vi.) Forty-three years after which re- 
move, it was deposited in its final resting-place, the 
holy of holies in Solomon's temple. Here, shrouded in 
the awful effulgence of the Shekinah, the glory of which 
filled the most holy place in token of the Divine pre- 
sence, it continued four hundred and fifty years, until 
the temple was destroyed, 588 B. C. 

MIZPEH. 

The Ark was brought to Kirjath-jearim twenty years 
before the great day of Mizpeh, when Samuel began to 

Distance and bearing of Kirjath-jearim from Jerusalem ? From 
Beth-shemesh ? How built ? Ancient edifice ? Continuance of the 
Ark here ? When removed to Jerusalem ? When was the Ark 
deposited in the temple? In what part of the temple deposited? 
How shrouded and overshadowed in that place ? What was the 
Shekinah ? How long did the Ark remain in the temple ? 

When did Samuel begin to judge Israel ? 



218 HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

judge Israel. In a great convocation at this place, the 
whole nation testified their repentance : '^ They drew 
water and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on 
that day, and said there : We have sinned against the 
Lord. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it 
as a burnt offering before the Lord, and cried unto the 
Lord for Israel." 

In the midst of these solemnities the Philistines come 
up to overwhelm them, and meet with an overthrow as 
signal as that of the Egyptians; the Lord thundering 
on them with a great thunder, in fulfilment of Hannah's 
prophecy. (1 Sam. vii: 2, 10.) 

Where then was Mizpeh, the scene of this reforma- 
tion and deliverance ? The name denotes a watch-tower. 
Corresponding to this, there is a high summit in the 
mountains of Benjamin, about six miles north and west 
of Jerusalem, which overlooks all the surrounding 
country to a great distance. On this sightly and com* 
manding summit, known by the name of Neby-Samwil, 
is supposed to have been this ancient town, where the 
tribes were now assembled, and subsequently often 
convened ; where Samuel judged the people in his 
yearly circuits to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh ; ' where 
Saul was chosen king by lot ; and where, under the 
Chaldeans, Gedaliah the governor resided and was 
assassinated. (Josh, xviii : 26; Judges xx: 1; xxi: 1; 
1 Sam. vii : 5-16 ; x: 17 seq. ; 2 Kings xxv : 22-25.) 

Neby-Samwil is a miserable village, having '^ a few 

What was the great day of Mizpeh ? How did the people testify 
their repentance ? Meaning of the name Mizpeh ? What high 
summit north of Jerusalem ? Name and distance from the city ? 
Prospect from it ? Historical associations ? Judgment-place of 
Samuel ? Election of Saul as king, how made ? What is now the 
village ? 



MIZPEH. 219 

houses now inhabited, and many traces of former 
dwellings. In some parts, the rock, which is soft, has 
been hewn away for several feet in height, so as to form 
the walls of houses ; in one place it is thus cut down 
apparently for the foundation of a large building ; two 
or three reservoirs are also in like manner hewn in the 
rock. These cuttings and levellings extend over a 
considerable space.'"* 

Mizpeh of Samuel is to be carefully distinguished 
from others of the same name. There was a Mizpeh 
in Judah (Josh, xv: 39;) another in Moab, probably 
the same as Kir-Moab (1 Sam. xxii: 3); another in 
Gilead, the same as Ramoth-Mizpeh (Judges xi : 29 ; 
Josh, xiii : 26) ; and yet a second in Gilead, north of 
the foregoing, where Jacob and Laban had their final 
interview. (Gen. xxxi : 49; Judges x: 17; Jer. xl: 
6,8.) 

In his old age Samuel established his two sons as 
judges in Beer-sheba, in the south of Judah. In 
consequence of their maladministration, the people 
formally rejected Jehovah as their King, and became 
importunate for a king, like all the nations. The conse- 
quence was that the Divine theocracy was terminated 
by the anointing of Saul as king over the Children of 
Israel, between 1070 and 1063 B. C, into which office 
he was afterward inaugurated at Gilgal. 

The circuit of Saul in search of the stray asses of 

Ancient ruins ? Notices of Mizpeh in Judah ? In Moab ? In 
Gilead ? In Northern Gilead ? Signification of the term in the final 
interviev/ of Laban and Jacob ? Samuel's sons in Beer-sheba ? 
Termination of the theocracy, when and why ? Where and by 
whom was Saul anointed king ? Where inducted into office ? 

* Robinson's Researches, vol. ii. 140. 



220 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

his father, which brought him to Samuel, by whom he 
was anointed king, is involved in inextricable difficul- 
ties. Shalisha, Shalim, and Zuph (1 Sam. ix: 4, 5); 
Zelzah and the plain of Tabor (1 Sam. x : 2, 3), are 
alike unknown. 

Within the period 1070 and 1063 B. C, occurred 
Saul's first military expedition, for the relief of the men 
of Jabesh-Gilead against the Ammonites. This town 
was situated about twenty miles below the Sea of Gali- 
lee, and a little east of Jordan. With incredible expe- 
dition Saul mustered an army of 330,000 at Bezek, 
apparently on the Jordan opposite Jabesh-Gilead ; and, 
by the total defeat of the Ammonites, established himself 
in the confidence of the people as their king. (1 Sam. xi.) 

While Saul was at Gilgal, the Philistines, those 
hereditary foes of his people, came up and pitched in 
Michmash, nine miles north of Jerusalem, with a for- 
midable array of chariots and horsemen, and '^people 
as the sand which is on the sea-shore for multitude." 
The people, in dismay, withdrew from Saul into con^ 
cealment; and he, impatient for the coming of Samuel, 
committed a great trespass by presuming himself to 
oflfer sacrifice, for which offence he was assured that the 
sceptre should depart from his family. 

With only six hundred trusty adherents he returned 
to Gibeah, which is here the same as Gebah, two or 
three miles south of Michmash, from which it is sepa- 

What was his first military expedition? Number of his army? 
How assembled? AVhere probably was Bezek? Where Jabesh- 
Gilead ? Result of the battle, and consequences of it ? Saul's next 
expedition ? Where was Michmash? EiFect of the invasion of the 
Philistines upon Saul's forces ? Saul's trespass at Gilgal? Conse- 
quences of it ? Where was Gibeah or Gebah ? How separated from 
Michmash ? 



Saul's wars. 221 

rated by a deep valley, running eastward towards Jor- 
dan, with steep precipitous sides, which is '«the passage 
of Michmash." While lingering at Michmash, the 
Philistines sent out companies of spoilers northwards, 
towards Ophrah ; westward towards Beth-horon, and 
eastward towards the wilderness and the unknown val- 
ley of Zeboim. (1 Sam. xiii.) 

In the deep valley between Gebah and Michmash, 
are two remarkable hills, one on each side of the valley, 
standing out from the precipitous walls of a conical, or 
rather spherical form, according to Dr. Robinson, with 
steep rocky sides. Shubert describes them as of a sugar- 
loaf form. These must be Bozez and Seneh, the seat of 
Jonathan's bold adventure, which resulted in the flight 
of the Philistines towards Ajalon, west-by-south from 
Michmash, in the course of which retreat many thou- 
sands of them were slain. (1 Sam. xiv: 1-46.) 

Saul, having regained the confidence of his people, 
and succeeded in collecting arms for his men, now 
wages war w^ith his enemies on every side. Beyond 
Jordan, east and south of the Dead Sea, he extends his 
conquests over Ammon, Moab, and Edom. 

Against his northern enemies, the kings of Zobah, in 
Mesopotamia, he also wages successful warfare, as far 
as the Euphrates. (1 Sam. xiv: 47, 48.) 

Next he turns his arms against the Amalekites, in 

Pass of Michmashj what ? In what direction were spoilers sent 
by the Philistines ? How were the Philistines discomfited ? Jona- 
than's adventure? Describe Bozez and Seneh? The flight and 
slaughter of the Philistines ? Jonathan's exposure to death, and de- 
liverance by the people ? Scarcity of arms, how occasioned ? How 
supplied ? Where were the Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites ? 
Where was Zobah? Extent of Saul's conquests in this direction? 
Where were the Amalekites ? 



222 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

the south of Palestine, those ancient, marauding, heredi- 
tary enemies of the Hebrews, who had been predestined 
to destruction. (Ex. xvii : 14 ; Deut. xxv : 18.) Instead 
of utterly exterminating these, he retains the best of the 
cattle for booty, and after erecting a vain monument of 
his victory at Carmel, brings back Agag, their king, 
as a prisoner to Gilgal, with the best of the sheep 
and of the oxen for sacrifice. For this neglect of the 
Divine command, the prophetic decree for the exclu- 
sion of his descendants w^as again and irrevocably pro- 
nounced by Samuel. (1 Sam. xv,) 

DAVID ANOINTED AT BETHLEHEM. 

After this prophetic denunciation against Saul, Sam- 
uel, by Divine direction, proceeded to Bethlehem, to the 
house of Jesse, to anoint David, now a youth of eighteen 
or twenty years of age, king over Israel, B. C. 1066 — 
1059. This circumstance offers a suitable occasion for 
bringing into notice this town, so distinguished, not 
merely as the residence of David, but as the birth-place 
of David's Royal Son, the King of Glory, the Lord our 
Saviour and Redeemer. 

Bethlehem is six miles from Jerusalem, a little w^est 
of south. It was called Bethlehem-Judah, to distin- 
guish it from another Bethlehem in Zebulun. (Josh, xix: 
15 ; Judges xii : 10.) It is also called Ephratah, the 
fruitful, and its inhabitants Ephrathites. (Gen. xlviii: 

What their character ? Their predestined doom, how executed 
by Saul ? What were the offences of Saul in this expedition ? Con- 
sequences of them ? Rebuke by Samuel, and its effects ? 

Age of David when anointed king? Date of the transaction? 
Where is Bethlehem ? Why called Bethlehem of Judah? Meaning 
of Ephratah ? 



BETHLEHEM. 223 

7 ; Micah v : 2.) It was the scene of the book of Ruth, 
the birth-place of David, and of his celebrated nephews 
Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, and w^as fortified by Reho- 
boam (2 Chron. xi : 6) ; but is for ever memorable as 
having given birth to the Saviour of the world. 

Bethlehem has been visited by innumerable travellers, 
and been often described. We have selected the follow^- 
ing description from the Travels of Dr. Olin : — 

" The first appearance of Bethlehem is very striking, 
in whatever direction it is approached. It is built upon 
a ridge of considerable elevation, which has a rapid de- 
scent to the north and east. The width of the town is 
very inconsiderable, in some places hardly exceeding 
that of a single street. From the gate at the western 
extremity to the convent which occupies the eastern, the 
distance may be half a mile. The first part of the way 
the street descends rapidly ; further on, and especially 
near the convent, it becomes tolerably level. 

" The houses are solidly, though roughly built of the 
limestone of which this whole region is composed ; but 
a large part of them are in a very dilapidated state, and 
uninhabited. A number are without a roof; of others, 
the w^alls are in a ruinous condition. The streets are 
narrow, and, though paved, are almost impassable for a 
horse. 

" The inhabitants are all Christians, the Mohamme- 
dans having been expelled and their houses broken dow^n 
by Ibrahim Pacha, during the insurrection of 1834. I 
could not ascertain what is the probable population. 

For what is Bethlehem distinguished in the book of Ruth ? Birth- 
place of whom ? First appearance of Bethlehem ? Its site ? Width 
of it ? Its length ? Describe the streets ? Population and charac- 
ter of the inhabitants ? 



224 - HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

though, from the extent of the town and the number of 
houses, it might contain from two to three thousand 
people ; yet I have seen them estimated at not more than 
three or four hundred. This is certainly much below 
the real number. 

'' The environs of Bethlehem are beautiful, but they 
cannot be said to be well cultivated. There is, indeed, 
no good tillage in this country, though the best is per- 
haps about this ancient town. The soil is fertile, but it 
is encumbered with rocks, and the hills and valleys are 
covered to a considerable distance with figs, olives, 
pomegranates, and vineyards. 

" The deep valley on the northern side of the town, 
which is overlooked by the road leading to Jerusalem, 
presents a scene of beauty and luxuriance unrivalled, so 
far as I have yet seen, in Palestine. The hill-sides by 
which it is bounded are terraced with great labour and 
care, and covered w^ith fine fruit-trees. This delicious 
spot may perhaps be taken as a specimen of the general 
appearance of the hill country in the prosperous days of 
the Jewish state, and of what it might once more become 
under the fostering care of a good government, and of 
an industrious, civilized population. 

"The Convent of the Nativity, which covers the spot 
where it is believed our blessed Lord was born, is situa- 
ted at the eastern end of the town, and is by far the most 
conspicuous object which it contains. It is a very ex- 
tensive stone edifice, irregular in its plan, from having 
been constructed a piece at a time, and at various dis- 

Bescribe the environs ? Tillage ? Soil ? The valley north ? 
The hill-sides ? Situation and plan of the convent ? How accounted 
for ? By whonn built ? Appearance 1 



BETHLEHEM. 225 

tant eras. The church, and, probably, some other parts 
of this immense pile, were built by the Empress Helena. 

^^ After passing through the low door and a sort of 
ante-chamber, we enter the ancient church built by He- 
lena. This is a magnificent structure, though now in a 
neglected and semi-ruinous state. It is thirty-four paces 
long and thirty broad, ornamented with forty-eight 
monolith columns of the Corinthian order, arranged in 
four rows of tw^elve columns each. The columns are 
about tw^o and a half feet in diameter by more than 
twenty feet in height. 

" This church was once richly adorned with paintings 
and mosaic, of which only a few^ mutilated figures re- 
main. The pavement is out of repair. The roof is of 
wood, and the naked, rough frame- work w^hich supports 
it has a bad effect, and is quite unworthy of the fine 
structure w^hich it surmounts. This roof I take to be a 
restoration rendered necessary by some casualty, and 
made in days of adversity. 

" The church seems at present to be merely an outer 
court, a sort of thoroughfare, through which entrance is 
gained into the smaller churches and the apartments of 
the convent. A wall has been erected across it, nearer 
the eastern end, w^hich cuts off a considerable area that 
has been converted into two small churches or chapels, 
where the Greeks and Armenians perform their respec- 
tive rites. The Latins have a separate church in the 
convent, situated a little further north." 

The manger of the nativity tradition assigns to a 
grotto under the Greek chapel. It appears to have been 

Church of Helena ? Dimensions ? Colonnade ? Paintings ? Mo- 
saic ? The roof ? Relation of this to other smaller churches ? To 

whom does it belong ? 
15 



226 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

a natural cavern, about twelve paces in length by four 
in breadth. What confidence is due to these traditions 
is questionable, but they are of long continuance, and 
have been generally believed. 

DAVID AND GOLIATH. 

Our attention is next directed to the scene of the com- 
bat between David and GoUath. This was in the valley 
of Elah, now Wady Es-Sumt, about fifteen miles south- 
west from Jerusalem on the road to Ascalon,in the borders 
of the mountains of Judah and the great western plain. 

It was visited by Dr. Robinson, who describes it as a 
fine fertile valley, with moderate hills on each side. 
" We now pursued our way down this valley, rejoicing 
in having thus been able to discover and visit the spot 
where the youthful warrior and poet, in firm reliance on 
the God of Israel, made his first glorious essay as the 
champion of his people."^ (1 Sam. xvii.) 

This valley took its name from the terebinth-tree, of 
which Dr. Robinson saw a noble specimen in this vici- 
nity, which he thus describes: — 

'^ Here, in the broad valley, at the intersection of the 
roads, stands an immense Butm-tree {Pistacia Terehiu" 
thus), the largest we saw anywhere in Palestine, spread- 
ing its boughs far and wide like a noble oak. This 
species is without doubt the terebinth of the Old Testa- 
ment ; and under the shade of such a tree, Abraham 
might well have pitched his tent at Mamre. 

"TheButm is not an evergreen, as is often repre- 

Combat of David and Goliath, where ? Description of the valley ? 
Distance and direction from Jerusalem ? Describe the terebinth- 
tree grovidng there ? What mention is made of it in Scripture ? 

* Researches, vol, ii. 350. 



THE CITY OF NOB. 227 

sented ; but its small feathered lancet-shaped leaves fall in 
the autumn, and are renewed in the spring. The flow- 
ers are small and followed by small oval berries, hanging 
in clusters from two to five inches long, resembling much 
the clusters of the vine when the grapes are just set. 

" From incisions in the trunk there is said to flow a 
sort of transparent balsam, constituting a very pure and 
fine species of turpentine, with an agreeable odour like 
citron or jessamine, and a mild taste, and hardening 
gradually into a transparent gum."^ 

The advancement of David to be armour-bearer to 
Saul, and then a minstrel to soothe him with music in 
his fits of morbid melancholy and jealousy ; the repeated 
expeditions of David against the Philistines; his marriage 
with the king's daughter, and the affection of Jonathan 
for him ; his visit to Samuel at Naioth, supposed to be 
Samuel's residence in Ramah ; and his departure from 
the court of Saul — all these eventful incidents in the life 
of David occupied apparently the space of only a few 
months. 

THE CITY OF NOB. 

Nob, the city of the priests who were slain by the 
treachery of Doeg, the Edomite, must have been in the 
immediate neighbourhood of Jerusalem, on the Mount 
of Olives, or a continuation of this ridge, a little north 

Relate the circumstances of David's appointment as armour- 
bearer to Saul ; as minstrel. His several expeditions against 
the Philistines ? His marriage, and friendship with Jonathan '/ His 
visit to Samuel, and departure from the court of Saul ? 

Where was Nob ? Describe David's visit to it. His eating of 
the shew-bread ? The exterminating cruelty of Saul, and treachery 
of Doeg, the Edomite ? 

* Researches, vol. iii. 15. 



228 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of this summit and north-east of the city ; but no trace 
of it has yet been discovered. (1 Sam. xxi; xxii: 9-20.) 
Gath, to which David fled, has already been described. 
Though hospitably entertained by Achish, he escaped 
the resentment of the lords of the Philistines by feigning 
madness, and hastily withdrew to the cave of AduUam, 
where he was visited by his kindred. 

CAVE OF ADULLAM. 

About six miles south-west from Bethlehem there is 
an immense natural cavern, the mouth of which can 
only be approached on foot, along the side of steep 
cliffs ; this, with some probability, is assumed to be 
the cave in question. According to the description of 
Irby and Mangles, it runs in by a long, winding, narrow 
passage, with small chambers or cavities on either side. 

^« We soon came to a large chamber w^ith natural 
arches of a great height; from this last there were 
numerous passages, leading in all directions, occasion- 
ally joined by others at right angles, and forming a 
perfect labyrinth, which our guides assured us had 
never been thoroughly explored; the people being 
afraid of losing themselves. 

'' The passages were generally four feet high, by three 
feet wide ; and were all on a level with each other. 
There were a few petrifactions where we were ; never- 
theless the grotto was perfectly clear, and the air pure 
and good." 

David next retires with his relatives and friends, and 

David's flight to Gath ? His reception ? Reasons for his feigned 
madness? 

Where, according to tradition, was the Cave of Adullam ? Ap- 
proach to it ? The entrance to it, and general appearance ? 



KEIL AH ZIPH M AON. 229 

four hundred Hebrew malcontents, to Moab, beyond 
Jordan ; but, at the suggestion of the prophet Gad, 
soon returns again to his own country, to the forest of 
Hareth, supposed to have been in the south of Judah, 
but the precise situation is unknown. (1 Sam. xxii : 5.) 

KEILAH. 

From thence he proceeds to the relief of the inhabi- 
tants of Keilah against the Philistines. 

This town was about twenty miles south-west from 
Jerusalem, on the southern plains of Judah. (1 Sam. 
xxiii : 1— IS.") It was, according to an ancient tradition, 
the burial-place of the prophet Habakkuk. 

WILDERNESS OF ZIPH. 

To escape from the persecution of Saul, David retires 
from this ungrateful city to the Wilderness of Ziph. 
This has been recognised by Dr. Robinson about four 
miles and a half south-by-east from Hebron. Ruins, 
consisting of broken walls and foundations, chiefly of 
unhewn stones, indicate, perhaps, the position of the 
strongholds among which David sought protection from 
Saul, and where he had an affectionate interview with 
Jonathan. (1 Sam. xxiii : 13-18.) 

MAON. 

Compelled by the treachery of the Ziphites to with- 
draw, he retired to the mountains of Maon, a few miles 

What attendants accompanied David to Moab ? Where was 
Moab ? Why did he return ? Probable situation of Hareth ? 

Describe the position of Keilah. Its dungeon ? Its deliverance 
by David ? What prophet was buried here ? 

Where was Ziph ? Ruins discovered here ? Affectionate inter- 
view with Jonathan ? 

Where was Maon ? Reason of David's flight here ? 



230 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

further south. (1 Sam. xxiii: 19-29.) This place is 
identified by a few foundations of hewn stone^ the ruins 
of a small tower or castle, and several cisterns on a high 
conical hill, which commands a wide prospect of the sur- 
rounding country. 

EN-GEDI. - 

From this place he proceeded north to the Wilder- 
ness of En-gedi, on the western shore of the Dead Sea, 
and near the centre of the coast from north to south. 

Here again we are indebted to Dr. Robinson for a de- 
scription of this wilderness. The country is everywhere 
of limestone formation, wdth a large mixture of chalk 
and flint. The surface is broken into conical hills and 
ridges, from two hundred to four hundred feet in height, 
and gradually sloping towards the Dead Sea. Some 
stinted shrubs are found in the highest part of the wil- 
derness ; further down, occasionally a little grass is seen, 
and then to a great extent the aspect is only that of 
utter sterility and desolation. 

" In the course of the day we had already started a 
gazelle ; and had seen also a jackal, which at a distance 
might be mistaken for a fox ; though his colour is more 
yellow, and his movements less wily. As we now came 
in view of the ravine of the Ghor, a beden (mountain- 
goat) started up and bounded along the face of the rocks 
on the opposite side. 

" Indeed, we were now in the ' Wilderness of En- 
gedi ;' where David and his men lived among ' the rocks 

Situation of En-gedi ? Geological formation of the country ? 
Unevenness and sterility ? Animals seen by Dr. Robinson ? Na- 
tural caverns? Magnanimity of David in sparing Saul? Effect on 
Saul ? 



NABAL, OF CARMEL. 231 

of the wUd-goats ;' and where the former cut off the 
skirts of Saul's robe in a cave. (1 Sam. xxiv : 1-4.) 
The whole scene is drawn to the life. On all sides the 
country is full of caverns, which might then serve as 
lurking-places for David and his men, as they do for 
outlaws at the present day.'''^ 

NABAL, OF CARMEL. 

The adventure of David with Nabal, the rich churl of 
Carmel, next invites our attention. (1 Sam. xxv.) Car- 
mel was situated midway between Ziph and Maon. A 
castle, a church, a reservoir, and many foundations and 
broken w^alls, attest the ancient strength of this place. 
Its site was a semicircular amphitheatre, around the head 
of a valley which falls away to the eastward of the town. 

'^ We were here in the midst of scenes memorable of 
old for the adventures of David, during his wanderings 
in order to escape from the jealousy of Saul ; and we 
did not fail to peruse here, and with the deepest interest, 
the chapters of Scripture which record the history of 
those wanderings and adventures. (1 Sam. xxiii : 13, 
seq. ; xxiv, xxv, xxvi.) Ziph and Maon gave their 
names to the desert on the east, as did also En-gedi ; and 
twice did the inhabitants of Ziph attempt to betray the 
youthful outlaw to the vengeance of his persecutor (1 
Sam. xxiii: 19 ; xxvi: 1.) 

" At that time David and his men appear to have 
been very much in the condition of similar outlaw^s at the 
present day ; for ' every one that was in distress, and 



Where was Carmel? Relate the story of Nabal. Ruins yet re- 
maining there ? Condition of David as an outlaw ? By whom was 
he joined ? 

* Researches, vol. ii. 203. 



232 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

every one that was in debt, and every one that was dis- 
contented, gathered themselves unto him ; and he be- 
came a captain over them ; and there were with him 
about four hundred men.' (1 Sam. xxii : 2.) They 
lurked in these deserts, associating with the herdsmen 
and shepherds of Nabal and others, and doing them good 
offices, probably in return for information and supplies 
obtained through them. (1 Sam. xxv : 7, 14-16.) 

" Hence, when Nabal held his annual sheep-shearing 
in Carmel, David felt himself entitled to share in the 
festival ; and sent a messenger recounting his own ser- 
vices, and asking for a present : ^ Wherefore let the 
young men find favour in thine eyes ; for we come in a 
good day : give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to 
thine hand, unto thy servants, and to thy son David/ 
(1 Sam. xxv : 8, 9.) 

" In all these particulars w^e were deeply struck with 
the truth and strength of the biblical descriptions of man- 
ners and customs, almost identically the same as they 
exist at the present day. On such a festive occasion, 
near a town or village, even in our own time, an Arab 
Sheikh of the neighbouring desert would hardly fail to 
put in a word, either in person or by message ; and his 
message, both in form and substance, would be only the 
transcript of that of David. "^ 

Hachilah, before Jeshimon, where David a second 
time spared the life of Saul, was in this neighbourhood, 
in or near the wilderness of Ziph ; but its precise loca- 
tion has not been ascertained. (1 Sam. xxvi.) 

Reasons for David's application to Nabal ? Accordance with 
modern usage of the Arabs ? Circumstance of David's sparing the 
life of Saul a second time ? Scene of this transaction ? 

* Robinson's Researches, vol. ii. 200-1. 



DEATH OF SAUL. 233 

ZIKLAG. 

Disheartened by this continual conflict with Saul, 
David once more threw himself upon the protection of 
Achish, king of Gath, by whom he was kindly received, 
and quartered, with his men, upon Ziklag, a neighbouring 
town, which, in the division of the land, was first allot- 
ted to Judah, then to Simeon, but had always remained 
in the possession of the Philistines. Here David con- 
tinued a year and four months ; during which time he 
made several successful expeditions against the maraud- 
ing tribes of the desert on the south of Judah. (1 Sam. 
xxvii.) 

DEATH OF SAUL. 

The Philistines again engage in war with the Is- 
raelites, and muster their hosts at Shunem, in that great 
battle-field of nations, the eastern part of the plain of 
Esdraelon, in the north of Palestine. SauPs forces 
were in Gilboa, a little south of Shunem. 

Perplexed, disquieted, and forsaken of God, he passes 
secretly around Shunem and Mount Hermon on the 
north, to consult, in disguise, a woman that had a 
familiar spirit, living at Endor, in the valley at the 
northern base of this mountain. (1 Sam. xxviii.) 

David accompanied Achish in this military expe- 
dition, but was mercifully prevented, by the distrust of 
the lords of the Philistines, from engaging in battle 

Where was Ziklag? To whom allotted ? By whom possessed? 
Story of David's residence here ? His expeditions from this place ? 

Invasion of the Philistines? Location of Shunem ? SauPs en- 
campment ? His visit to the witch of Endor ? Where was Endor ? 
What part did David take in this expedition ? Cause of his dis- 
mission and return ? 



234 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

against his own people ; and returned with his men to 
Ziklag. (1 Sam. xxix.") 

In his absence a party of Amalekites has come up 
from the desert through the south of Judah, to Ziklag, 
which they have burnt and retired again, into the soli- 
tude of the desert, with great booty gathered from this 
pillaging excursion. 

David, encouraged by the Lord, immediately goes in 
pursuit of these robbers ; succeeds in recovering his 
wives ; and gathers much spoil, which he distributes in 
presents to the cities bordering on the desert in the 
neighbourhood of Maon, Carmel, and Hebron, which 
he and his men were wont to frequent. 

Bethel and South Ramoth were also remembered by 
him in this distribution. With the former of these 
cities we have already become familiar. The latter is 
unknown. (1 Sam. xxx.) 

In the mean time the army of Saul had been totally 
defeated by the Philistines, in the valley of Jezreel, 
between Hermon and Gilboa. In this battle he and 
his sons were slain (1 Sam. xxxi) ; which gave rise to 
David's pathetic lamentation over Saul and Jonathan. 
(2 Sam. i: 17-27.) 

The Philistines sent the head of Saul, and his armour, 
in triumph round about their cities, to be exhibited 
before their idols ; but the bodies of him and his sons 
they hung up in Bethshan, at the eastern extremity of 
Jezreel near Jordan ; from whence they were taken by 

Expedition against the Amalekites ? Whence did they come ? 
What booty did they take ? Result of David^s expedition ? Pre- 
sents distributed to what cities, and in what section of country ? 
Bethel ? South Ramoth ? Defeat of Saul, where ? His death, and 
Jonathan's ? Lament of David for them ? Disposal of the head of 
Saul and his armour ? Indignity to his body ? 



DAVID AND SOLOMON. 235 

the men of Jabesh-Gilead, beyond Jordan, and decently 
interred. Thus ended the short and unhappy reign of 
Saul, the first king of the Hebrews, 1056 B. C. Ac- 
cording to our chronologist, he reigned about seven 
years. 



-♦-♦- 



CHAPTER VIII. 

DAVID AND SOLOMON. 

1056—978 B. C. 

David now establishes himself at Hebron ; and Ab- 
ner, at Mahanaim beyond Jordan, proclaims Ish-bosheth, 
SauFs son, king over Israel. Thus begins a civil war 
between these rival claimants of the throne. (2 Sam. ii.) 

Abner soon transfers his forces to Gibeon, near Gib- 
eah, the seat of Saul's kingdom, where they are met by 
Joab at the head of David's men. Here the challenge 
of Abner to Joab brings defeat upon him and his party. 
(2 Sam. ii.) Giah, near the wilderness of Gibeon, must 
have been near this city itself (2 Sam. ii : 24), but nothing 
is know^n of it. The same is true of the district or pass 
of Bithron, through which Abner retreats to Mahanaim. 
(2 Sam. ii: 29.) 

Laish, from whence David, by the agency of Abner, 

Buried by whom ? Continuance of Saul's reign ? Date of his 
death ? 

Period of the reigns of David and Solomon ? Civil w^ar between 
whom ? David's station ? Station of Ish-bosheth ? Character and 
influence of Abner relative to Saul ? Removal of Abner's camp ? 
Challenge of Joab? Defeat and retreat of Abner ? What is said 
of Giah ? Of Bithron ? What is known of these places ? Recovery 
of David's wife ? 



236 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

recovered his wife, Michal, the daughter of Saul, has 
already fallen under our notice as Dan, in the north of 
Palestine. 

Bahurim, to which her husband followed her, weeping, 
is near Jerusalem just east of the Mount of Olives, where 
also Shimei cursed David in his flight from Absalom, 
(2 Sam. iii: 16 ; xvi : 5.) 

Beeroth, the native place of Baanah and Rechab, the 
assassins of Ish-bosheth (2 Sam. iv : 2), was seven miles 
north of Jerusalem. 

After a reign of seven and a half years at Hebron, 
David takes Jerusalem, 1049 B. C, from the Jebusites, 

and makes it the seat of his kingdom. 

> ■ 

VALLEY OF REPHAIM. 

Soon after this the Philistines are thrice defeated in 
the valley of Rephaim. (2 Sam. v : 17-25.) This is a 
broad plain lying just without the walls of the city, 
towards the south-west, which at a little distance con- 
tracts into a narrow valley, or defile, running off through 
the mountains to the land of the Philistines. 

In the second instance he compassed them in the rear, 
so that they retired before David to Gebah, a few miles 
north of Jerusalem. From thence they were pursued 
by David across the country w^estward to Gazer, near 
the northern limits of their own country. 

Laish or Dan, where ? Where was Bahurim? What is said of 
it in connexion with this event ? In the history of David and Shi- 
nnei ? Assassins of Ish-bosheth, who ? From what place ? Con- 
tinuance of David's reign at Hebron ? Over what tribe ? Capture 
of Jerusalem, from whom ? At what period ? 

Valley of Rephaim ? Battles fought here ? Retreat of the Phi- 
listines to Gebah, where ? Thence to Gazer, where ? 



VALLEY OF SALT. 237 

REMOVAL OF THE ARK. 

The Ark is now removed, with great formahty and 
pecuUar festivities, from Kirjath-jearim to its final abode 
in the city of David, after having remained in that city 
sixty-eight years. (2 Sam. vi.) 

CONQUESTS OF DAVID. 

The conquests of David are now swept with great 
rapidity over the neighbouring kingdoms, north and east 
of Palestine. The Syrians of Damascus ; Zobah, the 
country extending from the region of Damascus to the 
river Euphrates ; Ammon and Moab, east of Jordan and 
the Dead Sea ; and Edom, still further south, in quick 
succession yield to his conquering arms, and become 
garrisoned provinces of his extended kingdom. 

VALLEY OF SALT. 

David, in this military expedition to Northern Syria, 
greatly enriched himself with various treasures, which 
he dedicated to the Lord, and '« gat him a name when he 
returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt ^ 
being eighteen thousand men." (2 Sam. viii: 13.) We 
are indebted to Mr. Thompson for a lively and graphic 
description of this remarkable locality, which hitherto 
has been but little known, and seldom visited by 
European travellers. 

It is some distance above Hamath, and twenty-four 

Removal of the Ark, from whqjice to what place ? How long 
had it heen at Kirjath-jearim ? 

Where was Damascus ? Where and what was Zobah ? Where 
was Ammon ? Moab ? Edom ? 

What was the object of David^s expedition ? What acquisitions 
did he make ? Use of them ? What victory did he gain ? 



238 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

miles south-east of Aleppo. The incrustations which 
are gathered here are carried to a neighbouring village, 
where they are sorted, dried, winnowed, and sold to all 
parts of the country. 

" This vale of salt is the most extraordinary place 
that I have yet visited. There was the shore, a short 
distance in advance of us, as distinctly marked as that of 
the ocean ; but what was my surprise not to find one 
drop of water — nothing but a boundless extension of 
incrusted salt ! 

" A vast expanse of glassy salt, glowing in the burn- 
ing sun of August — an oppressive, saddening, dismal 
brightness. I have rarely felt such a sadness at heart 
as when steeped, drenched in this flood of glory. The 
very atmosphere trembled, and simmered^ and quivered, 
as if it were molten silver. The excess of brightness 
was terrible, and the total silence and utter absence of 
any manifestation of life, were oppressive. It is a vale 
of utter death, polished and burnished into intolerable 
and horrid splendour. It is four days' ride in circum- 
ference. 

" In winter this whole region is actually a lake, with 
its margin as accurately defined as any other, but by 
August the water has all evaporated, and a crust of 
white, coarse-grained salt, has been deposited over the 
entire surface. I nowhere saw this crust thicker than 
half an inch. The quantity, however, depends upon 
the amount of rain during winter, and it is said, some- 
times, and in certain places, to be several inches thick.'' 

Where is this vale ? Describe it? The shore? The surface? 
Dazzling brilliancy ? Extent of the lake ? Appearance in winter ? 
Thickness of the crust in summer? Preparation of the salt for 
market ? Supply of country ? 



NORTHERN CONFEDERACY. 239 

On the south-eastern margin of this vale, our travel- 
ler was informed that very extensive ruins are found, 
which bear the name of Zobah or Zebah. This place 
he supposes marks the site of Hadadezer's capital, 
which David took and destroyed. From this region to 
the Euphrates it is <' without inhabitant." 

Lo-debar, from whence David called to his court 
Mephibosheth, the only surviving son of Jonathan, was 
in Gilead, beyond Jordan, not far from Mahanaim. (2 
Sam. ix ; xvii : 27.) 

NORTHERN CONFEDERACY. 

The insult of the children of Ammon next engages 
David in war with them, who unite the Syrians on the 
northern frontiers of Palestine in a formidable confede- 
racy against him. These petty states of Syrians were 
in the neighbourhood of Damascus, Maachah on the 
north, and Zobah. 

Beth-rehob, south-w^est from Damascus, near Mount 
Hermon. The position of Ish-tob cannot be defined. 

These, in connexion wdth Ammon, must have formed 
a vast army at Medeba, seven miles south of Heshbon, 
and about twice that distance east of the northern part 
of the Dead Sea. (2 Sam. x ; 1 Chron. xix.) Medeba 
still retains its ancient name. It lies now in utter ruins 
spread over a round hill, one mile and a half in circuit. 

Ruins of Zobah ? The country east ? Lo-debar, where situated ? 
In what connexion noticed ? Story of Mesphibosheth. 

Insult to David's naen, by whom and what ? Northern confede- 
racy ? Where was Maachah ? Zobah ? Beth-rehob ? Ish-tob ? 
Rendezvous of the allied army, where ? Present name and condi- 
tion of Medeba ? 



240 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SYRIANS. 

The Syrians, the determined foes of the Jews, again 
rally, against whom David himself goes forth to battle 
at Helam, which, as the narrative indicates, must have 
been near the Euphrates. (2 Sam. x: 15-19.) 

DEATH OF URIAH. 

The tragical death of Uriah, in consequence of 
David's sin with Bathsheba, occurred at Rabbah in 
Ammon, some twenty miles east-north-east from Jericho 
beyond Jordan. (2 Sam. xi, xii ; 1 Chron. xx : 1-4.) 

DEATH OF AxMNON. 

Absalom, after assassinating his brother Amnon, 
took refuge with his grandfather Talmai, king of Ge- 
shur. (2 Sam. iii: 3; xiii.) Where then was Geshur? 
It was on the river Jordan, between Mount Hermon and 
the Sea of Tiberias, on the northern boundary of the 
territory beyond Jordan. In this vicinity, on the road to 
Damascus, there is a very ancient stone bridge, which 
may perhaps mark the situation of Geshur. 

TEKOAH. 

From Geshur, Absalom, after an absence of three 
years, was recalled at the intercession of the ^'wise 
woman'' of Tekoah. (2 Sam. xiv.) This town was 
situated twelve miles south from Jerusalem, on an 

Describe David's expedition against the Syrians. Where was 
Helam ? 

Story of Uriah ? Scene of his death, where ? Manner of it ? 

Assassination of Amnon? Flight of Absalom? Where was 
Geshur ? 

Recalled by what means ? Where was Tekoah ? 



/REBELLION OF ABSALOM. 241 

* 

eminence commanding an extensive prospect, and over- 
looking at various points the Dead Sea and the moun- 
tains of Moab beyond. 

Tekoah was fortified by Rehoboam, and distinguished 
as the birth-place of the prophet Amos. It also gave a 
name to the desert region lying east of it towards the 
Dead Sea. The ruins of the place cover an extent of 
several acres, and consist of the foundations of houses, 
the remains of an ancient tower or castle, and a Greek 
church. 

REBELLION OF ABSALOM. 

On his return, Absalom began his treasonable de- 
signs against the king his father. After four years, 
which is assumed as the true reading of 2 Sam. xv: 7, 
Absalom openly begins his rebellion at Hebron, and 
soon advances to Jerusalem. David, in the mean time, 
passes out at the eastern gate of the city ; and crossing 
the brook Kidron, in the valley below, ascends the 
Mount of Olives, barefoot, and having his head covered, 
and weeping, as he goes on in his flight towards Jordan. 

Just beyond this mount, at Bahurim, he meekly re- 
ceives the revilings of Shimei; and, pursuing his jour- 
ney, crosses the Jordan, apparently at some distance 
beyond Jericho, and makes a stand against his rebel- 
lious son at Mahanaim, in Gilead, where Ish-bosheth 
formerly held his court. (2 Sam. xv, xvi, xvii.) 

Commanding situation of it. What prophet was born here ? 
Wilderness of Tekoah, where ? Ruins of Tekoah ? 

Describe the treasonable practices of Absalom. When and where 
begins his open rebellion ? Advance to Jerusalem ? Describe the 
distress of David. His retreat over Kidron and up the Mount of 
Olives ? The reviling of Shimei ? Continuation of his flight ? Fi- 
nal stand, where ? 
16' 



242 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

The Wood of Ephraim, where the battle between the 
forces of Absalom and David w^as fought, is supposed 
to have been east of Jordan, near Mahanaim. (2 Sam. 
xviii.) The Jewish rabbins allege that it received this 
name from the circumstance that the Ephraimites, 
whose territory extended down to the opposite banks of 
the Jordan, were accustomed to send their herds and 
flocks over the river for pasturage. 

Others are of opinion that the contending parties 
passed over into the territory of Ephraim before they 
engaged in battle. David, however, is beyond Jordan 
again after the battle ; and, on his triumphant return to 
Jerusalem, is met by the men of Judah at Gilgal, to 
conduct him over Jordan. (2 Sam. xix: 15.) This seems 
to indicate that, in his exile, he has remained at Maha- 
naim, and that the battle w^as fought near that place. 

ABEL, BETH-MAACHAH. 

Abel of Beth-maachah, where Sheba posted himself 
in his revolt from David, was in the north of Palestine, 
a short distance north-west of the Waters of Merom, in 
the territory of Naphthali. (2 Sam. xx.) It appears to 
have been a walled city of importance. Eighty years 
afterwards, it was taken and sacked by Ben-hadad, 
king of Syria (1 Kings xv : 20 ; 2 Chron. xvi : 4.) ; and 
two hundred years subsequently by Tiglath-Pileser, who 
sent away the inhabitants captive to Assyria. (2 Kings 
XV : 29.) 

Wood of Ephraim, what ? For what remarkable ? Tradition 
respecting it ? Death of Absalom ? By whom slain ? Grief of 
David? Return of David ? Passage of the Jordan, where ? Meet- 
ing with loyal subjects from Jerusalem? 

Who was Sheba ? Describe his revolt. Where was Abel-Beth- 
maachah ? Capture by Ben-hadad ? By Tiglath-Pileser ? 



WATERS OF GIHON. 243 

Of Zelah, the burial-place of Saul and Jonathan (2 
Sam. xxi : 14), nothing more is known than is men- 
tioned in the Scriptures, that it was in Benjamin. 

The situation of Gob, the scene of two battles (2 
Sam. xxi: 18, 19) with the Philistines, is entirely lost. 
In the parallel passage in Chronicles it is called Gezer. 
(1 Chron. xx: 4.) Wieland suggests that it may have 
been Gath. 

EN-ROGEL. 

Below the city, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, and just 
beyond the junction of the valley of Hinnom with that 
of Jehoshaphat, is a large quadrangular well, one hun- 
dred and twenty-five feet deep, which usually contains 
a good supply of sweet water ; and, in the rainy sea- 
son, discharges a considerable stream. 

This w^ell, called the Well of Job, and the Well of 
Nehemiah, is understood to be En-rogel of the Scrip- 
tures. It appears to be very ancient, and in situation 
corresponds well w^ith the various notices of it. It is in 
the midst of an olive-grove, and retains many traces of 
former gardens. Adonijah here began his ambitious 
efforts for the kingdom, «' without the city, at the foun- 
tain which is in the king's garden." (Josh, xv: 7, 8; 
xviii: 16,17; Josephus, Antiq. vi : 14,4; 1 Kings i: 9.) 

WATERS OF GIHON. 

Gihon, to which young Solomon was led to be 
anointed king, is supposed by the author of the Picto- 

What is said of Zelah ? Where was it ? What is said of Gob ? 

What and where w^as En-rogel ? By what other names known ? 
Dimensions of the well ? Traces of antiquity ? Usurpation of 
Adonijah here ? 

What and where was Gihon ? Where was Solomon anointed 
king. 



244 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

rial Bible, and by Dr. Robinsoiij to have been a foun- 
tain west of the city, which was stopped, or covered 
over by Hezekiah, and its waters brought by subterra- 
neous channels into the city. (2 Chron. xxxii : 30; 
xxxiii: 14; Sirach xlviii : 17.) These waters are sup- 
posed still to flow in these hidden channels down to 
the ancient temple, and perhaps to Siloam. 

ACCESSION OF SOLOMON AS KING. 

Solomon ascended the throne of David 1017 B. C, 
and inherited an empire extending from the Mediterra- 
nean to the Euphrates, and from the mountains of 
Lebanon to Egypt and the Ailanitic arm of the Red 
Sea ; including a population of more than 5,000,000. 

Thus David, during a reign of forty years, had made 
the Hebrews the ruling people, and his empire the prin- 
cipal monarchy in Western Asia. 

As David's reign had been one of conflict and blood, 
so Solomon's was one of quietness and peace. The 
Canaanites were his willing vassals. The warlike and 
civilized Philistines ; the Edomites, Moabites, and Am- 
monites ; the nomadic Arabians of the desert; and the 
restless and warlike Syrians, from Damascus to the 
Euphrates, all were tributary to him. Peace gave to all 
his subjects prosperity ; the trade which he introduced 
brought wealth into the country ; the building of the 
temple and of palaces introduced foreign artists, and 
encouraged commercial intercourse with foreign na- 

Water brought into the city by Hezekiah ? 
' Date of Solomon's accession ? Extent of the empire ? Popula- 
tion of it ? Result of David's reign ? Character of his administra- 
tion in comparison with Solomon's ? Tributaries of Solomon ? 
Wealth how increased ? Introduction of foreign artists ? Inter- 
course with foreign nations ? 



JERUSALEM. 245 

tions. Every department of human industry flourished, 
and the good order and discipline of the administration 
was as much the subject of admiration as the wisdom 
and learning of the monarch; 

JERUSALEM. 

This city has now become the metropolis of a great 
empire. It is the residence of a splendid court. It is 
about to be adorned with the Temple of the Lord^ and 
to become the City of our God. The light from Heaven, 
which, shrouded in that mysterious shrine, shone feebly 
out upon the surrounding darkness, was destined to go 
forth with brightness to enlighten and bless the be- 
nighted nations of the earth. 

The present is, therefore, a fit occasion to pause and 
take a brief survey of this Holy City, so renowned of 
itself, so celebrated in sacred song as beautiful for 
situation, an eternal excellency, the joy of many gene- 
rations. 

Jerusalem is in the midst of the central chain of 
mountains which runs north and south though Palestine, 
on the boundary line between the tribes of Benjamin 
and Judah, about forty miles from the sea, and twenty- 
four from the Jordan, and nearly the same distance 
north of Hebron. It occupies an irregular promontory 
in the midst of a confused sea of rocks, crags, and hills. 
Here, on her rocky heights, she sits dreary, silent, and 
solitary, amid surrounding desolation. 

The promontory of the city begins at the distance of 
a mile or more north-west of the city, at the head of the 

What gives celebrity to Jerusalem ? Situation of it ? In what 
tribe ? Distance from the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea ? From 
Tio\^T.,>n 7 Promnntorv on which it is built ? 



246 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

valleys of Jehoshaphat and Gihon, which gradually 
fall away on the right and left ; and, sinking deeper as 
they run in a circuitous route around the opposite sides 
of the platform of the city, unite their deep ravines at 
some distance south-east of the city, and many feet be- 
low the level of its walls. 

The valley of Jehoshaphat, on the north, runs nearly 
east for some distance, then turns at a right angle to the 
south, and opens a deep defile below the eastern walls 
of the city, between it and the Mount of Olives. The 
valley of Gihon pursues a southerly course for some 
distance, then sweeps in a bold angle around the base of 
Mount Zion, and falls by a rapid descent into a deep 
narrow water-course, which continues in an easterly 
direction to its junction with the valley of Jehoshaphat. 

Near the south line of the valley of Jehoshaphat, be- 
fore it turns to the south, a slight depression begins at 
the north gate of the city. This depression, the head 
of the valley of the Tyropoeon, or Cheesemongers, con- 
tinuing south through the city, divides it into two sec- 
tions ; of which the eastern is terminated by Mount 
Moriah, on w^hich stood the temple. The western divi- 
sion is terminated by Mount Zion, w^here was David's 
house and the royal residence of his successors. 

The city was again traversed by another valley from 
south-west to north-east, with a slighter depression 
north of the Mounts Zion and Moriah, forming two 
slight eminences, Acra and Bezetha ; the first, on the 
north, opposite Zion ; the other north-east, above 

Defended by what valleys ? Origin and course of the valley of 
Jehoshaphat ? Of Gihon ? Their junction ? Valley of the Tyropoeon ? 
Two sections of the city ? Mountains in each ? Transverse section 
how formed ? Heights separated by this ? 



JERUSALEM. 247 

Moriah. The city was thus situated upon four hills, of 
which the two on the north now rise but little above 
the elevated platform of the city ; while the two on the 
south, after all the waste of ages, still rise to bold com- 
manding heights, surrounded each, on three sides, by 
deep natural trenches. 

Jerusalem retains few traces of her ancient grandeur. 
The site of the temple is occupied by the Mosque of 
Omar, a splendid Turkish sanctuary, to which neither 
Jew nor Christian is allowed access under any circum- 
stances. Beneath the platform of the mosque, and within 
the walls, are some concealed crypts, which are sup- 
posed to be the remains of the ancient foundations which 
Solomon laid at the foot of Mount Moriah to rear the 
lofty ground- work of his temple. Two of these, nine- 
teen feet wide, opened a magnificent passage under ground 
from the Tyropceon on the south up to the temple. 

" The arches are of hewn stone, and the noblest that I 
have seen in the country. As I walked through the 
broad aisles, in a stillness broken only by the sound of 
my footsteps, it was a thrilling thought. I was treading 
one of the avenues through which the tribes had passed 
to the temple. I seemed to see the throng of worship- 
pers and to hear their chant : ' I w^as glad when they 
said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. I 
will pay my vows now in the presence of all the people, 
in the court of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, 
O Jerusalem! Praise ye the Lord !' '^^ 

The hills on which the city was built ? Mosque of Omar ? An- 
cient arched way under it ? Supposed remains of what ? 



* Rev, Mr. Wolcott. 



248 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Jerusalem is still surrounded by a wall varying in 
height, from twenty to sixty feet, according to the un- 
dulations of the ground. Near the base of this wall, at 
the foot of Mount Moriah, travellers have noticed some 
very large bevelled stones, which are supposed to be the 
remains of the ancient foundations laid by Solomon. 

This w^all runs across the northern part of Mount 
Zion, which is now, for the most part, a neglected waste. 

*^ On its summit, at some hundred paces from Jerusa- 
lem, stands a mosque, and a group of Turkish edifices, 
not unlike a European hamlet, crowned with its church 
and steeple. This is Sion ! the palace, the tomb of 
David ! the seat of his inspiration and of his joys, of his 
life and his repose ! A spot doubly sacred to me, who 
have so often felt my heart touched, and my thoughts 
rapt by the sweet singer of Israel ! the first poet of sen- 
timent! the king of lyrics ! Never have human fibres 
vibrated to harmonies so deep, so penetrating, so solemn. 
Never has the imagination of poet been set so high, 
never has its expression been so true. Never has the 
soul of man expanded itself before man, and before God, 
in tones and sentiments so tender, so sympathetic, and 
so heartfelt !"^ 

The same traveller forcibly describes the profound 
oblivion into which the proud structures of this renowned 
city have sunk : — 

" Some pools, and the tombs of her kings, are the 
only memorials Jerusalem retains of her past eventful 

- Wall of Jerusalem ? Height of it ? Ancient stones at the base ? 
Mount Zion ? Sacred associations ? Ruined condition of the ancient 
city?' 

\ * Lamar tine. 



JERUSALEM. 249 

story : a few sites alone can be recognised ; as that of 
the temple, indicated by its terraces, and now bearing 
the large and magnificent mosque of Omar-el-Sakara : 
Mount Sion, occupied by the Armenian convent, and 
the tomb of David ; and it is only with history in one's 
hand, and with a doubting eye, that the greater part of 
these can be assigned wdth any degree of precision. 

" Except the terraced walls in the valley of Jehosha- 
phat, no stone bears its date in its form or colour : all is 
in ashes, or all is modern. The mind wanders in uncer- 
tainty over the horizon of the city, not knowing where 
to rest ; but the city itself, designated by the circum- 
scribed hill on which it stood, by the different valleys 
which encircled it, and especially by the deep valley of 
Cedron, is a monument which no eye can mistake. 

" There, truly, was Sion seated ; a singular and un- 
fortunate site for the capital of a great nation ; it is 
rather the natural fortress of a small people, driven from 
the earth, and taking refuge w^ith their God and their 
temple on a soil that none could have an interest in 
disputing with them ; on rocks which no roads can ren- 
der accessible ; amidst valleys destitute of water, in a 
rough and sterile climate ; its only prospect, mountains 
calcined by the internal fire of volcanoes — the mountains 
of Arabia and Jericho, and an infectious lake, without 
shore or navigation — the Dead Sea. Such is Judea! 
Such the site of a people whose destiny it has been to 
be proscribed in almost all periods of their history, and 
with whom the nations have disputed even their capital, 
thrown, like an eagle's nest, on the summit of a group 

Uncertain localities ? Fixed natural features ? Disadvantageous 
position of the city ? Soil ? Roads ? Climate ? Prospect ? 



\ 



250 HISTORICAL GEOGKAPHY. 

of mountains ; yet this people was the chosen depositary 
of the great truth of the Divine Unity, a truth, the inhe- 
rent importance of which was itself sufficient to distin- 
guish them from all other people, and to make them 
proud of their proscriptions, and confident in their doc- 
trines of Providence." 

All travellers agree in their representations of the 
overpowering impression produced by the first view of 
the Holy City, so singular in situation, so striking in 
scenery, so sacred in hallowed associations. 

The gloomy silence and solitude of this devoted city, 
in entire harmony with the stern and awful scenery 
around, are forcibly sketched by the same hand : — 

" No noise arises from her squares and streets, no 
roads lead to her gates from the east or from the west, 
from the north or from the south, except a few paths, 
winding among the rocks, on which you meet only half- 
naked Arabs, some camel-drivers from Damascus, or 
women from Bethlehem or Jericho, carrying on their 
heads a basket of raisins from Engaddi, or a cage of 
doves, to be sold on the morrow under the terebinthuses 
beyond the city gates. 

'' No one passed in or out ; no mendicant even was 
seated against her curb-stones ; no sentinel showed him- 
self at her threshold ; we saw, indeed, no living object, 
heard no living sound ; w^e found the same void, the 
same silence, at the entrance of a city containing thirty 
thousand souls, during the twelve hours of the day, as 
we should have expected before the entombed gates of 
Pompeii or Herculaneum." 

Overpowering impressions here received ? Gloomy silence of the 
city ? Articles of traffic ? Passing and repassing in the city ? 



TYRE. 251 

Our limits forbid us to pursue in detail either the topo- 
graphy or the history of the city of David. These are 
fully given in the invaluable " Researches" of Dr. Robin- 
son. But the history of Jerusalem is the history of the 
Jewish nation, and various localities of the city and in- 
cidents in its history will come under consideration as 
we proceed. 

TYRE. 

The important assistance which Solomon received 
from Hiram, king of Tyre, in the building of his temple 
and of his palaces, the friendly relations that subsisted 
between these neighbouring monarchs, the numerous 
prophetic denunciations against that ancient and re- 
nowned city, and their awful fulfilment, invite a parti- 
cular description of Tyre. 

This ancient city, in the age of Solomon, had been 
founded more than two hundred years. Situated on the 
eastern coast of the Mediterranean, midway between 
Egypt and Asia Minor, it early commanded an extensive 
trade with the cities and countries bordering on this 
great inland sea. 

It became equally renowned as the metropolis of 
Phoenicia and the mart of nations, for its vast commerce, 
its various manufactures, its skill in the arts, and its 
immense accumulation of wealth. 

This city appears from the beginning to have main- 
tained friendly relations with the kingdom of the Israel- 
ites. Hiram, the ancestor of the reigning monarch of 

Reasons for particularly noticing Tyre ? Age of the city? Ad- 
vantageous position for commerce ? W^ith what nations ? For what 
particularly renowned ? Relations to the kingdom of Israel ? 
Frien(ily offices of Hiram the elder to David ? 



252 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

the same name, sent cedar-trees to Jerusalem, and work- 
men who built David a house. (2 Sam. v : 11.) 

The temple of Solomon ow^ed its curious workmanship 
and costly magnificence to materials, artisans, and ex- 
haustless wealth, drawn from the same source. (1 Kings 
V, vi, vii.) The principal artificer of the temple was a 
native of Tyre, a man " skilful to work in gold, and in 
silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in pur- 
ple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson ; also to 
grave every manner of graving." (2 Chron. ii : 1 Kings 
vii : 13, seq.) The celebrity of the inhabitants of Tyre 
in the arts is mentioned by Homer and by the prophet 
Ezekiel. (Ezek. xxvii : 16.) 

So extensive w^as its trade that it was styled, by 
way of eminence, " the merchant city, whose merchants 
were princes, whose traflSckers w^ere the honourable of 
the earth.'^ (Isa. xxiii : 8.) 

When Solomon began to engage in navigation, " Hiram 
sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had know- 
ledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon." (1 
Kings ix : 27.) Her ships went out on three years' 
voyages to Tarshish, supposed to be the south-western 
part of Spain. 

About a century after the age of Solomon, Tyre built 
Carthage, the founding of which is poetically described 
by Virgil. Cyprus, Utica, and Cadiz were also colo- 
nized by her ; and, indeed, almost all the western shores 

Ornaments of the temple, how provided ? Master workman of 
the temple ? What was the city called, and why ? What its mer- 
chants ? What its traffickers ? Aid to Solomon in navigation ? 
Where was Tarshish ? Length of the voyage ? When and hy what 
colony was Carthage built ? Described by what poet ? Other colo- 
nies from Tyre ? 



TYRE. 253 

of the Mediterranean to the Straits of Gibraltar, and 
the coast of the Atlantic beyond the Pillars of Her- 
cules. On these coasts she is reported by Strabo to 
have planted no fewer than five hundred cities. 

Tyre was situated on the coast of the Mediterranean, 
thirty miles north-west of the Sea of Galilee, and near 
one hundred north-north-west from Jerusalem. It was 
built on the shore, and on a long, narrow, and rocky 
island, a mile in length, and at the distance of half a 
mile from the coast. 

The city was supplied with water by aqueducts from 
several springs, three miles south of the city, which 
gush out of the earth in copious fountains, and afford 
an abundant supply, not only for a large city, but for 
pTirposes of irrigation and manufactures. 

Tyre was besieged by the king of Assyria, 720 B. C, 
who, at the end of five years, gave up the siege as 
hopeless. Near two hundred years later it sustained a 
siege for thirteen years, against Nebuchadnezzar. And 
332 B. C, Alexander captured it after a siege of seven 
months, by casting up a mound against it, connecting 
the island with the mainland. This, by the accumu- 
lation of sand, has, in the course of time, become an 
isthmus, half a mile in width. Tyre was once visited 
by our Saviour (Matt, xv : 21 ; Mark vii : 24) ; and 
Paul landed here on his way from Miletus to Jerusalem 
(Acts xxi : 3, 7). 

Much of the island is now naked, '^ a place to spread 

What were the Pillars of Hercules ? Strabo's account of the cities 
planted by Tyre? Where was Tyre? Distance from the Sea of 
Galilee ? From Jerusalem ? Describe the situation of it ? Dimen- 
sions and position of the island ? How supplied with water ? Siege 
of Tyre by the king of Assyria ? By Nebuchadnezzar ? Capture 
"by Alexander ? 



254 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

nets upon." The western shore is a ledge of rugged 
rocksj fifteen or twenty feet high, against which <'the 
waves of the Mediterranean dash in ceaseless surges." 
This shore is strewed, from one end to the other, with 
columns of red and gray granite of various sizes, the 
only remaining monuments of the splendour of ancient 
Tyre. At the north-west point of the island, forty or 
fifty such columns are thrown together in one heap, be- 
neath the waves. 

Dr. Robinson, to whom we are indebted for the pre- 
ceding extract, after surveying the desolations of Tyre, 
and musing upon her pomp and glory, her pride and 
her fall, exclaims : 

'' Here was the little isle once covered by her palaces 
and surrounded by her fleets ; where the builders per- 
fected her beauty in the midst of the seas ; where her 
merchants were princes, and her traffickers the hon- 
ourable of the earth ; but alas ! ' thy riches, and thy 
fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy 
calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all 
thy men of war, that were in thee, and in all thy company' 
— where are they ? Tyre has indeed become ' like the 
top of a rock, a place to spread nets upon !' The sole 
remaining tokens of her ancient splendour lie strewed 
beneath the waves in the midst of the sea; and the 
hovels which now nestle upon a portion of her site, pre- 
sent no contradiction of the dread decree : ' Thou shalt 
be built no more.' '"^ 

The downfall and permanent desolation of Tyre is 

General appearance of the island ? Western shore ? Ruins sub- 
merged ? Monuments of her former grandeur now remaining ? 
Contrast between her former magnificence and present desolation ? 
Buildings now there ? Prophetic denunciations against her ? 

* Researches^ vol. iii. 395. 



COMMERCE AND MERCHANDISE OF TYRE. 255 

one of the most memorable accomplishments of pro- 
phecy which the annals of the world exhibit. In con- 
nexion with this subject, the reader is earnestly requested 
to read the prophecies relating to Tyre. (Isa. xxiii ; 
Ezek. xxvi — xxviii.) 

COMMERCE AND MERCHANDISE OF TYRE. 

The merchandise and the commerce of Tyre, as de- 
scribed by Ezekiel (chap, xxvii), was connected with 
almost all the nations of the earth ; from which she 
gathered wealth to perfect her beauty, and men to com- 
plete her armies and her navies. Under the similitude 
of a noble ship, the prophet sets forth the care with 
which the builders perfected her beauty. 

Lebanon and Hermon [Senir) were laid under con- 
tribution for fir-trees and cedars. Bash an {^Gilead) and 
the coasts of Cyprus {the isles of Chittim) for other ma- 
terials. Her sails were of fine linen, from Egypt, and 
her awnings purple, from the Grecian islands {the isles 
ofElisha), This splendid symbolical ship of state was 
provided wdth mariners from Zidon, Arvad, and Gebal. 

Arvad is an island north of Tripoli, near the mouth 
of the ancient Eleutheris. The inhabitants w^ere famous 
for their skill in navigation. Mr. Thompson, the mis- 
sionary, describes it as distant two or three miles from 
Tortosa or Orthosia, on the shore, six days' journey north 
of Tyre, and still containing two thousand inhabitants. 

Prophecy, how fulfilled in her ? What prophets predicted her 
overthrow? From what sources was her wealth derived? Her 
army filled and her navy supplied ? 

W^hat mountains are designated by Senir ? What did they con- 
tribute? Isles of Chittim, what ? Their contributions ? Isles of 
Elisha, what ? Their contributions ? Contributions of Zidon and 
Arvad ? Where w^as Arvad ? Famous for what ? 



256 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

It was a place of great strength and greater antiquity, 
but its long story of three or four thousand years is 
irrecoverably lost. 

«' Who can tell the history of Arvad ? in what volume 
is it recorded? Isaiah, twenty-five hundred years ago, 
asks, ' Where is the king of Hamath and the king of 
Arphad?' And Jeremiah, a hundred years later, re- 
sponds, ' Hamath is confounded, and Arphad, for they 
have heard evil tidings ; they are faint-hearted, there is 
sorrow on the sea, it cannot be quiet.' " 

Gebal is the modern Jebeil, on the coast, perhaps 
twenty-five miles north of Beirut. 

" The most remarkable thing about Jebeil is the 
multitude of granite columns which are built into the 
walls and castles, choke up the small harbour, and lie 
scattered over the fields. Beautiful sarcophagi are also 
frequently dug out of the ruins. One was found quite 
recently of the most exquisite workmanship, and with 
a Greek inscription. It had never been opened, and 
consequently the bones of its original tenant were found 
in it. I have seen the rings, bracelets, and gold-leaf 
which covered the face, and several other ornaments 
found amongst the bones. It is to be regretted that 
these admirable specimens of ancient art are generally 
broken to fragments by the inhabitants to get them out 
of the way, or to serve for building their houses and 
garden walls. The columns are mostly of gray granite 
< — plain shafts varying in length from ten to twenty 
feet, and in diameter from one to two feet." 

The armies of Tyre were filled with soldiers drawn 

Present condition and population ? Wliere was Gebal ? Modern 
name? For what remarkable? From whence did Tyre procure 
her soldiers ? 



COMMERCE AND MERCHANDISE OF TYRE. 257 

from the remotest countries — from Persia on the east, 
and from Phut and Lud, distant provinces of Egypt, 
on the south. 

The Gammadims are not a people, but warriors, 
heroes, and renowned men upon her walls. 

Her merchandise was with Tarshish in the far west, 
and Javan, Tubal and Meshech in the north-east. Me- 
shech and Tubal are provinces in the Caucasian Moun- 
tains, between the Caspian and Black Seas. Javan in 
this place, according to Havernick, is some province, 
near Tubal and Meshech, which, like them, was en- 
gaged wdth Tyre in the slave-trade. 

Togarmah, Armenia^ traded in these things. 

Dedan and the neighbouring isles also brought thither 
their merchandise. There were two persons of this 
name, both of whom gave names to different tribes. The 
first, descended from Abraham; in Northern Arabia near 
Idumea or Edom. (Gen. xxv: 3; Isa. xxi: 13; Jer. xxv: 
23; xlix: 8; Ezek. xxv: 13; xxvii: 20.) This tribe 
is mentioned below, (verse 20.) But Dedan, in the 
passage now under consideration, traded in the pro- 
ductions of Southern Arabia. Havernick supposes their 
residence to have been near the Persian Gulf; and the 
islands of that region to be the isles in question. (Ezek, 
xxxviii: 13.) 

Minnith (verse 17) is a city of Ammon. (Judges xi : 
33.) Pannag is not a town, but some delicacy, which 
was an article of trade. 

Helbon (verse 18) is Aleppo, in the extreme north 

Where was Persia? Where Phut and Lud ? What were th<? 

Gammadims ? Where was Javan ? Who Meshech ? Where Tubal ? 

Where was Togarmah ? Modern country of it ? Where was Dedan ? 

The neighbouring islands ? Where Minnith ? What was Paaaag ? 

Where Helbon ? Modern name ? 
17 ' 



258 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of Syria, seventy-six miles east of the Mediterranean, in 
a direct line, and ninety from Antioch. It is still a large 
commercial town of one hundred thousand inhabitants. 

Arabia and Kedar (verse 21) are wandering Beda- 
wins, who rove in caravans over these regions, engaged 
in the carrying-trade of the desert. 

Sheba and Raamah (verse 22) are Southern Arabia — 
Arabia Felix, east of the southern part of the Red Sea. 

Haran, Canneh, and Eden (verse 23), are in Mesopo- 
tamia. (Comp. 2 Kings xix : 12.) The first, south-east 
of Edessa. The second, probably Ctesiphon, on the 
Euphrates, opposite Seleucia. Eden, Havernick sup- 
poses, may have been the capital of the province of 
Telassar, lying between the Tigris and Euphrates, just 
above their junction. (Isa. xxxvii : 12.) These cities, 
according to this commentator, were the merchants of 
Sheba, that rich and remote province of Arabia. But 
the mercantile relations of Tyre were even more exten- 
sive, for Chilmad and Asshur, that is, all Assyria, is en- 
gaged in trade with her. 

CEDARS OF LEBANON. 

Lebanon, that ^'goodly mountain," and the cedars 
thereof, the pride of its forests, are so often mentioned 
in the history of Solomon as to deserve a passing notice. 
We give from Dr. Wilson a description of these cedars, 
and a sketch of the scenery from one of the highest sum- 
mits above them. Their position is in the parallel of 
latitude 34*^ 15', a few miles above Beirut. 

Arabia and Kedar, v/hat ? Where Sheba and Raamah ? Where 
Haran, Canneh, and Eden ? Where and what was Telassar ? Chil- 
mad and Asshur where ? 

Where the Cedars of Lebanon ? 



CEDARS OF LEBANON. 259 

« As first seen by us, from Jebel Makmel, they ap- 
peared merely as a speck of green beyond the snowy 
wreaths which intervened between us and them. 

'' The perpendicular fall of the mountain to them is 
twenty-four hundred feet, for they are six thousand feet 
above the level of the sea ; but the road winds so cau- 
tiously down the sides of the mountain, that loaded 
horses and mules can get to them without much diffi- 
culty. We made all possible haste to them ; and we 
remained a couple of hours beneath their hallowed 
shelter. They stand on what may be called the shoulder 
of Lebanon, on ground of a varying level. They cover 
about three acres. 

'^ The venerable patriarch trees, which have stood the 
blasts of thousands of winters, amount only to twelve, 
and these not standing close together in the same 
clump ; but those of a secondary and still younger 
growth, as nearly as can be reckoned, to three hundred 
and twenty-five. A person can walk easily round the 
whole grove in twenty minutes. 

" The most curious instance of vegetable growth 
which we noticed in it, was that of two trees near its 
western side, stretching out their horizontal branches, 
and, after embracing, actually uniting, and sending up 
a common stem. We measured all the larger trees, 
one of which, at least, we found to be forty feet in cir- 
cumference. 

''The wood is remarkably compact and solid, and 
of a fine grain, and capable of being cut and carved 

Appearance of them at a distance ? Height of them above the 
level of the sea ? Distance below^ the summit ? Space covered by 
them ? Number of older trees ? Of the younger ? Curious union 
of two ? Circumference of the largest ? Quality of the wood ? 



260 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

into ornamental pieces of furniturCj and highly and de- 
lightfully scented." 

COMMISSARIES OF SOLOMON. 

The several districts in which Solomon stationed his 
twelve commissaries, for the supply of his household, 
may be determined with tolerable distinctness, though 
several of the places mentioned cannot be identified. 
(1 Kings iv : 4-20.) 

Mount Ephraim w^e recognise in the hill country north 
of Jerusalem. 

Beth-shemesh, with which we have become familiar, 
is mentioned in connexion with Makaz, Shaalbim, 
Elon-beth-hanan, which directs us to the northern dis- 
trict of Judah, south-west from Jerusalem. 

Socho, which belonged to the third commissary, is 
assumed by Wieland in his atlas to be identical with a 
town of this name, which Drs. Robinson and Wilson 
saw in the mountains of Judah, about twelve miles south 
of Hebron. If so, his province was among ^' the utter- 
most cities of the children of Judah, toward the coast 
of Edom, southward." (Josh, xv: 21.) 

Dor, the province of the son of Abinadab, was on the 
Mediterranean, above Joppa, and a few miles south of 
Carmel. Dr. Wilson, who visited this place, describes 
it as consisting of a few wretched houses situated close 
to the sea, near a small bay. 

^c There are considerable masses of ruins in this 
place. From the references to it in Scripture, it seems 
to have been early a place of considerable importance. 

Commissaries of Solomon, what ? District of the first commis- 
sary ? Of the second ? Of the third ? Where was Dor ? Remains 
of it? 



AZZAH AND TIPHSAH, 261 

It was one of the towns which Manasseh had in Issa- 
char, but the inhabitants of which that tribe could not 
originally drive out. Its king was smitten by Joshua. 
It was the residence of Ben-Abinadab, son-in-law of 
Solomon, and one of his twelve commissariat officers, 
and was at this time probably one of the ports of the 
Israelitish kingdom." 

Taanach, Megiddo, Bethshean, and Jezreel, with 
which we have already become acquainted, direct us to 
the great plain of Esdraelon, as the province of the 
fourth officer of this kind. 

'The fifth was in Ramoth-Gilead and neighbouring 
tow^ns. 

The sixth was in Mahanaim, a few miles north of 
Ramoth. Tw^o were stationed in the northern province 
of Palestine, in Naphthali and Asher. In Issachar and 
Benjamin, one each. Another still east of Jordan, in 
the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og 
king of Bash an. 

AZZAH AND TIPHSAH. 

Azzah, which is given as one of the extreme bounda- 
ries of Solomon's kingdom, is only another name for 
Gaza. (1 Kings iv: 24.) 

Tiphsah is the ancient Thapsacus, once a large and 
flourishing city on the west bank of the Euphrates, of 
w^hich now nothing but the name remains. 

A line running from Gaza north-east through Damas- 
cus to Thapsacus, intersects the kingdom of Solomon in 

Historical notices of it ? District of the fourth commissary ? Of 
the fifth ? Of the sixth ? 

With what was Azzah identical ? Where was Gaza ? Where 
was Tiphsah ? What was another name of this city ? 



262 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

its greatest length. The phrase therefore is expressive 
of the extent of his dominion, as from Dan to Beer-sheba 
describes that of Palestine. The extreme length of the 
empire may have been three hundred and fifty or four 
hundred miles. 

FORTIFIED CITIES OF SOLOMON. 

Besides the expenses of the temple and of his palaces, 
Solomon appropriated much public money in fortifying 
several cities in different parts of the kingdom ; Hazor, 
west of the Waters of Merom, as a protection doubtless 
against the Syrians, those restless and vigilant foes of 
the Jews; Megiddo, on the south-western borders of 
Esdraelon, commanding the caravan trade between Syria 
and Egypt ; and Beth-horon the Nether, Baalath, and 
Gezer, all situated near together, a few miles west-by- 
north from Jerusalem, near the southern frontiers of the 
Philistines. These may have been needful defences 
against the Philistines and the kings of Egypt, (1 Kings 
ix: 15-19.) 

Tadmor is also mentioned in the same connexion. 
This is Palmyra, the City of Palms, situated in the 
midst of the Syrian desert, between Damascus and the 
Euphrates. It is four days' journey east of Baalbec, and 
still some days' journey west of the Euphrates. Stand- 
ing in solitary and gloomy magnificence in the midst 

Meaning of the phrase " From Azzah to Tiphsah V^ Length of 
the empire ? 

What city did Solomon fortify in the north of Palestine west of 
Lake Huleh? For what purpose ? What on the plain of Esdrae- 
lon ? For what purpose ? What cities west of Jerusalem ? For 
what purpose ? What are the other names of Tadmor ? Where 
situated ? From Damascus ? Baalbec ? The Euphrates ? Nature 
of the country around ? Name of the desert ? 



COMMERCIAL CITIES OF SOLOMON. 263 

of a vast desert, and at a great distance from any 
habitable town, this ancient city, even in its ruins, pre- 
sents an appearance singularly impressive. 

Remains of ancient temples and palaces surrounded 
by splendid colonnades of white marble, many of which 
are yet standing; and thousands of prostrate pillars, 
scattered over a large extent of space, attest the ancient 
magnificence of this City of Palms, surpassing that of 
the renowned cities of Greece and Rome. 

How vast must have been the flow of wealth in trade 
from east to west, that could have reared and sustained 
such a city in the solitude of a desert, far from any 
other human habitations ! To secure the advantages of 
the caravan trade across the great Syrian desert, was 
doubtless the object of Solomon in fortifying this city. 
The ruined structures and columns that remain are 
mostly of an age subsequent to that of this monarch 
of Israel. 

COMMERCIAL CITIES ON THE RED SEA. 

To secure the trade of the Indian Ocean and the dis- 
tant and unknown country of Ophir, Solomon also 
built two cities on the Akabah, the eastern arm of the 
Red Sea. These were Elath and Ezion-Geber. They 
must have been near together at the head of this gulf. 

A neglected pile at the north-western angle of the 
bay, is supposed to mark the site of Elath. 

Describe the ruins ? Extent and magnificence of them compared 
with Greece and Rome ? Extent of trade through this city ? Object 
of establishing it in this place ? 

What commercial cities did Solomon build on the Red Sea ? Where 
were they? For what object built? Indications of the probable 
site of Elath ? 



264 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

South-east of this, just across the head of the bay, is 
a large fort or castle, two hundred feet square, with 
towers at the four corners, and walls twenty-five feet in 
height; it is garrisoned by thirty or forty men, and serves 
to keep the Bedawins in awe and protect travellers and 
pilgrims to Mecca. This may have been the port of 
Ezion-Geber. However that may be, the commerce 
of that ancient port has entirely ceased. 

Not even a fishing-boat lies in the harbours which 
once received the fleets of Solomon, as they returned 
from their distant voyages of three years, laden wdth the 
gold of Ophir. 

QUEEN OF SHEBA. 

The visit of the queen of the south, who came from 
the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of 
Solomon, next engages our attention. (1 Kings x.) 
Where then was Sheba? whence came this celebrated 
personage ? The best authorities concur in the belief 
that she came from the southern province of Arabia Felix, 
on the eastern shore of the Red Sea, south of the modern 
city of Mecca. Others, wdth less probability, suppose 
her to have come from Abyssinia, where also was a 
settlement of Sabeans, the descendants of Seba, eldest 
son of Cush. (Gen. x: 7.) 

OLD AGE AND DEATH OF SOLOMON. 

Near the close of Solomon's reign, the peace of his 
kingdom was disturbed by a revolt of the Edomites on 

Probable site of Ezion-Geber ? Describe the fort ? Garrison 
there ? Object and use of it ? 

Where was Sheba ? Where is Arabia Felix ? Where the city 
of Mecca ? Where Abyssinia ? By whom settled ? 



JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 265 

the south-eastern, and of the Syrians on the north-east- 
ern frontiers. (1 Kings xi.) His once voluptuous repose 
was more disturbed by the seditious designs of Jere- 
boam the son of Nebat, and by the prophetic annuncia- 
tion that the kingdom should be rent from him by this 
usurper, in punishment of his idolatrous defection from 
Jehovah at the instigation of his foreign wives. Solo- 
mon died about 978 B. C, at the age of sixty, after a 
reign of forty years, but little lamented by his subjects. 



CHAPTER IX. 

KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 

978—721 B. C. 

Wearied with their oppressive burdens, the people 
on meeting at Shechem to appoint their king, de- 
manded of Rehoboam a promise that he would relieve 
them of their intolerable burdens under his father. 
Upon his refusal of this request, the ten northern tribes 
openly revolted and proclaimed Jeroboam, who had 
just returned out of Egypt, their king. 

Rehoboam, therefore, the only son of Solomon of 
whom we have any knowledge, inherited, at the age of 

Revolt of the Edomites ? Where were they ? What other revolt 
about the same time ? Seditious designs of Jeroboam ? His pa- 
rentage ? Promotion by Solomon? Prophecy respecting him by 
Ahijah ? Kingdom rent from Solomon for what sins ? His age and 
period of his death ? Character of his reign ? How regarded by 
his people ? 

Where did the people meet to appoint a successor of Solomon ? 
Demand of the people ? Reply of Rehoboam ? Revolt of the ten 
tribes ? Their choice of a king ? Why had Jeroboam been in 
Egypt ? Inheritance of Rehoboam ? 



266 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

forty-one, a division of his father's kingdom comprising 
the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah, who in future 
are known as the kingdom of Judah. 

This kingdom in territory retained not more than a 
fourth part of that of Solomon. In relative strength, 
however, the two kingdoms were more equally divided. 
Judah was more densely populated than Israel : the 
whole of Levi, refusing to countenance the idolatries of 
Jeroboam, left their cities in his kingdom and retired 
into Judah (2 Chron. xi : 14) ; and many other faithful 
adherents to the religion of their fathers, from time to 
time followed the example of the Levites in settling in 
Judah. (2 Chron. XV : 9.) 

Before proceeding to the history of the kings of Ju- 
dah and Israel, it will be useful to take a general view 
of the two kingdoms. . , 

^' In the preceding history we have seen that King 
Jehovah, from the time of Moses to the death of Solo- 
mon, always governed the Hebrews according to the 
promises and threatenings which he had pronounced to 
them from Mount Horeb. If thev deviated from the 
principle of worshipping Jehovah as the only true God, 
that is, if they revolted from their lawful king, he 
brought them, by suitable chastisements, to reflect on 
their obligations to return to Jehovah, and again to keep 
sacred the fundamental law of their church and state. 
The same course we shall find pursued in the govern- 
ment of the two kingdoms. 

Age of Rehoboam ? What are these two tribes in future called ? 
What part of Solomon's kingdom ? Relative strength of Judah and 
Israel ? What part of the kingdom was most prosperous ? Which 
part did the tribe of Levi join ? Reasons for so doing ? Other ac- 
cessions to Judah ? How caused ? Who had been the Supreme 
Ruler in Israel ? Consequences of revolt ? 



JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 267 

^^ In the kingdom of Israel, there was from the first 
the greatest disregard of the Divine laws, and it was 
consequently destroyed one hundred and thirty-four 
years earlier than the kino-dom of Judah. Jeroboam 
trusted little to the Divine promise made to him by the 
prophet, and feared that if the people went to Jerusalem 
to attend the feasts, they would return to their allegiance 
to the house of David. To prevent such a step, he 
set up two golden or gilded calves as images of Jehovah, 
an imitation of the Apis and Mnevis of the Egyptians, 
among whom he had long dwelt in exile. One of 
these was located at Bethel, not far from Shechem, for 
the southern tribes, and the other at Dan, for the tribes 
in the north. He built temples for these images, erected 
altars, appointed priests from all the tribes without dis- 
tinction, and even performed the priestly functions him- 
self. 

" The history represents a contest (as Hess expresses 
it) between Jehovah, who ought to be acknowledged 
as God, and the idolatrous Israelites ; and everything is 
ordered to preserve the authority of Jehovah in their 
minds. At last, after all milder punishments proved 
fruitless, these rebellions were followed by the destruc- 
tion of the kingdom and the captivity of the people, 
which had been predicted by Moses, and afterwards by 
Ahijah, Hosea, Amos, and other prophets. (Deut. xxviii. 
36 ; 1 Kings xiv : 15 ; Hos. ix ; Amos v.) 

" We shall find Divine Providence likewise favourable 



Defection of the kingdom of Israel ? Early overthrow of it ? 
Motive of Jeroboam in establishing idolatry ? Golden calves, in 
imitation of vi^hat ? Their location ? Temples and priests ? Con- 
test between Jehovah and the people ? Destruction of the kingdom, 
for what end ? 



268 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPIIY, 

or adverse to the kingdom of Judah, according as the 
people obeyed or transgressed the law ; only here the 
royal family remained unchanged, in accordance with 
the promise given to David. We shall here meet, indeed, 
with many idolatrous and rebellious kings, but they are 
always succeeded by those of better views, who put a 
stop to idolatry, re-established theocracy in the hearts of 
their subjects, and by the aid of prophets, priests, and 
Levites, and of the services of the temple, restored the 
knowledge and worship of God. Judah, therefore, 
though much smaller than Israel, continued her national 
existence one hundred and thirty-four years longer ; but 
at last, as no durable reformation w^as produced, she ex- 
perienced the same fate as her sister kingdom, in fulfil- 
ment of the predictions of Moses and several other pro- 
phets. (Deut. xxviii : 36.)"^ 

The reign of Jeroboam continued two-and-twenty 
years ; during which he built the unknown city of Penuel. 
Twice he received a solemn denunciation from the Lord 
for his crimes, accompanied by the sentence of the 
utter extermination of his family. He died at the age 
of sixty-three years, after having acquired an infamous 
notoriety in all time, as Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who 
made Israel to sin. (1 Kings xii, xiii, xiv.) 

MILITARY FORTIFICATIONS OF REHOBOAM. 

Rehoboam, though forbidden to wage war against 
the revolted tribes, proceeded to fortify and garrison 



Succession in Judah ? Wicked and idolatrous kings 1 Means by 
which the theocracy was restored and preserved ? Continuance of 
the kingdom of Judah ? Denunciations against Jeroboam's family ? 
By what prophets ? His age, and character ? 

* Jahn, vol. ii., c. xxxv., p. 46. 



FORTIFICATIONS OF REHOBOAM!. 269 

many towns in Judah, as a means of defence against 
Israel (2 Chron. xii : 5-12), or rather against the 
Philistines and Egyptians who might become confede- 
rates of Israel ; and there w^as war between Rehoboam 
and Jeroboam all their days (1 Kings xiv; 30). 

Etam, which Rehoboam fortified, with Bethlehem 
and Tekoah, had been already decorated by Solomon 
with gardens and streams of water. Thither, according 
to Josephus, he was accustomed to take a morning 
drive in his chariot. 

This place is supposed, by Dr. Robinson and others, 
to be the modern Urtas, in a valley of the same name, 
a mile and a half south of Bethlehem. Here is a 
copious fountain and ancient ruins — '' the foundations 
of a square tower, a low, thick wall of large squared 
stones, rocks hewm and scarped, and the like." 

Beth-zur has been identified by Rev. Mr. Wolcott, 
in the remains of an old town and other ruins near a 
copious fountain of w^ater, on an eminence four or five 
miles north of Hebron, towards Jerusalem. 

Socho was on the borders of the western plain south- 
west from Jerusalem, the scene of combat of David and 
Goliath. This is the second town of the same name 
which has fallen under our notice. 

Adullam was also on the plain apparently near this 
city and Gath. Its precise situation has not been deter- 
mined. It is to be distinguished from the cave of the 

Did not Rehoboam wage war against Israel ? Object in garri- 
soning many towns ? Relations of Jeroboam and Rehoboam ? 
Towns that had been decorated by Solomon ? For what purpose ? 
Where was Etam ? Fountain and ruins found there ? Where was 
Beth-zur ? By whom identified ? Fountains here ? Where was 
Socho? For what remarkable? Where was Adullam? Distin- 
guished from what ? 



270 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

sarae name near Bethlehem. (Comp. Gen. xxxviii : 1, 
12-20 ; Josh. XV : 35 ; xii : 15 ; Neh. xi : 30.) 

The PhiHstine city of Gath was another of Rehoboam's 
fortified places on the frontiers of that country. 

Maresha is supposed to have been a mile and a half 
south of Eleutheropolis. With Ziph we have already 
become acquainted in the history of David. 

Adoraim is recognised in the village of Dura, four or 
five miles south-west from Hebron. 

Lachish, already noticed, is said by Eusebius and 
Jerome, according to Dr. Robinson, to have been seven 
miles from Eleutheropolis towards the south. It was 
besieged by Rab-shakeh two hundred and fifty years 
later, and from the historical notices of it, appears to 
have been a place of some importance. (Josh, x : 3-31 ; 
XV : 39 ; 2 Kings xviii : 14 ; xix : 8.) 

The position of Azekah is determined by its proximity 
to Socho, in the history of the combat of David with 
Goliath. (1 Sam. xvii : 1.) 

Zorah is known to us as the birth-place of Samson, 
on the borders of the plain west of Jerusalem. And 
Ajalon as that valley in which the " sun and moon were 
stayed in their course." (Josh, x : 12.) 

The invasion of Shishak, king of Egypt, occurred in 
the fifth year of the reign of Rehoboam, when the temple 
and his own palace were despoiled of their treasures. 
(1 Kings xiv : 25 ; 2 Chron. xii.) 

Jeshanah, taken by Abijah in his miraculous victory 

Where was Gath? Where was Maresha? Where is Dura? An- 
cient name ? Situation of Lachish ? Siege of it, when and by whom ? 
Importance of it ? Where was Azekah ? Previous mention of it ? 
In what connexion is Zorah mentioned ? Describe the invasion of 
Shishak ? Where was Jeshanah ? Victory over Jeroboam there ? 



WAR BETWEEN JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 271 

over Jeroboam, 959 B. C, is wholly lost in the oblivion 
of ages past. The history shows that it must have been 
a city of Samaria. (2 Chron. xiii: 19.) 

INVASION OF JUDEA BY ETHIOPIANS. 

Asa's virtuous reign over Judah began 958 B. C. 
After fifteen years spent in reforming the idolatry of the 
people, and in building fenced cities, his country w^as in- 
vaded by a formidable army of Ethiopians, who were 
totally defeated at Maresha, which Rehoboam had forti- 
fied. (2 Chron. xiv.) 

With Gerar, where the pursuit terminated, we have 
already become familiar in the history of Abraham and 
Isaac. (Gen. xx : 1 ; xxvi : 1-33.) 

But whence came these Ethiopians ? From Southern 
Arabia, the country of the queen of Sheba, according to 
some. From Ethiopia proper, in the opinion of others. 
Others again suppose that there may have been a king- 
dom of Ethiopians or Cushites, on both sides of the Red 
Sea, which furnished this formidable army ; and another 
class suppose these Ethiopians to have usurped the throne 
of Egypt, and, like Shishak, invaded Judah from that 
country. 

WAR BETWEEN JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 

After a period of profound peace, open hostilities began 
between Asa and Baasha king of Israel, who secured the 
possession of the throne by conspiring against Nadab 

When did Asa begin to reign ? Character of his reign ? Defeat 
of the Ethiopians, where ? Trace the pursuit of them to Gerar ? 
Different opinions respecting the country of the Ethiopians ? War 
between Asa and Baasha? Means by which Baasha gained the 
throne ? Extermination of the family of Jeroboam ? 



272 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

son of Jeroboam, and utterly exterminating the race of 
that guilty monarch, according to the words of the pro- 
phet. (1 Kings XV : 25-31, comp. xiv : 1-19.) 

Nothing more is known of Gibbethon, where Nadab 
was slain, than that it was one of the cities of the Philis- 
tines included in the territory of Dan. (Josh, xix : 44.) 

To prevent the emigration of his own people and the 
intercourse of the two nations, Baasha renewed hostilities 
by fortifying Ramah, six miles north of Jerusalem, fami- 
liarly known in sacred history, and associated with a 
melancholy interest by the waiHngs of Rachel weeping 
for her first-born. (Matt, ii : 18.) To effect a diversion 
of his antagonist, Asa engaged the assistance of Ben- 
hadad, the Syrian, of Damascus, to invade the north of 
Israel, and appropriated, for this purpose, the treasures 
of his palace and of the temple. 

This invader overran the territory of Naphthali, around 
the head waters of the Jordan, extending his conquests 
to the Sea of Galilee. (1 Kings xv : 16-21.) Dan, so 
often mentioned, was, as we have seen, at the head of 
the vast marsh and meadow above the Waters of Merom. 

Ijon and Abel-beth-maachah, a little west and north 
of this marsh, were on the line of the enemy's march. 

Cinneroth was on the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret, 
to which it gave its name, this being only a corruption 
of Cinneroth, Its location has not been determined. 

The works of Baasha at Ramah were utterly demo- 
lished by Asa, and two towns built of the materials. 

What is known of Gibbethon ? Who was slain there ? Where 
"was Ramah ? Reasons for fortifying it ? Historical associations ? 
Measures of Asa to prevent this ? Whence were treasures obtained ? 
Territory invaded and cities conquered? Where was Cinneroth? 
To what did it give name ? Ramah demolished by whom ? 



THE CITY OF SAMARIA. 273 

(1 Kings XV : 22.) Geba must have been two miles or 
more east of Ramah and Mizpeh, on the lofty eminence 
of Neby-Samwil, at an equal distance in the south-west. 
The last years of Asa's, reign were embittered by 
wars, by reason of his distrust of Jehovah in seeking 
the aid of the Syrians, and by personal ills. They were 
also dishonoured by some acts of petulance and cruelty. 
(2Chron. xvi : 7-14.) 

THE CITY OF SAMARIA. 

During the reign of Asa, from 958 to 917 B. C, 
several wicked kings ruled over Israel, memorable 
chiefly for their sins. ^1 Kings xvi: 6-29.) Omri, 
however, the last of these kings, built the renowned city 
of Samaria, 926 B. C, and made it, instead of Tirzah, 
the capital of the kingdom of Israel. 

This city now becomes distinguished in the history 
of the kings of Israel, and of the prophets Elijah and 
Elisha, connected with the various famines of the land, 
the unexpected plenty of Samaria, and the several 
deliverances of the city from the Syrians. 

It continued for two hundred years the seat of idolatry 
and the subject of prophetic denunciations, until the 
carrying away of the ten tribes into captivity by Shal- 
maneser. Five hundred years afterwards it was taken 
by John Hyrcanus, and razed to the ground, according 
to the words of the prophet: '' What is the transgression 

What Divine rebuke did Asa suffer in his old age ? What was his 
offence ? Chaiacter of his reign ? 

Contemporary kings of Israel, and their character ? When and 
by whom was Samaria built ? What had been the capital of Israel ? 
In whose history does it become renowned ? What remarkable de- 
liverance did it experience ? How long did it continue ? Prophecy 
respecting it ? When and by whom fulfilled ? 
18 



274 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of Jacob ? Is it not Samaria ? Therefore I will make 
Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a 
vineyard ; and I will pour down the stones thereof into 
the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof." 
(Micahi:5, 6.) 

Not a vestige of ancient Samaria now remains. But 
it was rebuilt and adorned with regal munificence by 
Herod. Of these structures many interesting ruins 
now remain. Here Philip preached the gospel ; and, in 
connexion with Peter and John, gathered a church. 
(Acts viii: 5-25.) 

Where then was Samaria ? The access to it is 
through Shechem, along the verdant valley which breaks 
through the mountains westward, between Ebal and 
Gerizim. After turning a little to the north-west, this 
valley, at the distance of three or four miles, spreads 
out into a broad circular basin, five or six miles in dia- 
meter, and bounded on every side by mountains. From 
the plain of this beautiful amphitheatre of mountains, 
near the western side, rises a very high hill by almost 
perpendicular sides, on which stood Samaria, command- 
ing a position of impregnable strength and of surpassing 
loveliness. The distance from Shechem and Jacob's 
Well may be six or seven miles. 

Samaria, or Sebaste, as it was called by Herod, has 
been described by many travellers. We are indebted 
to Dr. Olin for the full and graphic description of its 
present state : — 

" The ascent is very steep, and more than one hundred 

By whom was Samaria rebuilt ? Gospel preached here by whom ? 
Church gathered here ? Valley leading from Shechem to Samaria ? 
Amphitheatre around Samaria? Hill? Strength of the position 
and prospect from it ? Distance from Shechem ? 



THE CITY OF SA.MARIA. 275 

feet in height, and the narrow footpath winds among the 
ruinous, though substantial cottages, which appear to 
have been constructed, to a great extent, of ancient 
materials, very superior in their size and quality to any- 
thing that would nowadays be wrought into an Arab 
habitation. The imposing remains of a magnificent 
Christian church were immediately upon my right. A 
mosque, at the moment occupied with Mohammedan 
worshippers, stands within its walls. 

" At the distance of not more than fifteen rods west 
or south-west of the mosque, commence the vestiges of 
an ancient colonnade, which is easily traceable by a 
great number of columns, erect or prostrate, along the 
side of the hill for at least one-third of a mile, where it 
terminates at a heap of ruins, near the western extremity 
of the ancient site. 

" I counted eighty-two standing columns, and the 
number of fallen and broken ones must be much greater. 
The avenue is seventeen paces wide; the columns are 
two feet in diameter, with, however, considerable variety 
in size, and some in material, as I saw several of granite 
and white marble, while the larger number were of the 
limestone common to the region. They may be eighteen 
or twenty feet in length. The capitals are all gone, 
though the shafts retain their polish, and, where not 
broken, are in good preservation." 

This colonnade, it is supposed , may have been a splen- 
did avenue leading to the city. Other imposing ruins 
of ancient walls and vast colonnades still remain, silent, 
mournful mementos of the ancient magnificence of this 
renowned city. 

Ascent to the site of Samaria? Ruins of an ancient church? 
Ruins of colonnades, walls, &c. ? 



276 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



ELIJAH THE PROPHET. 



Sacred history now introduces to our notice Elijah 
the Tishbite, 915 B. C, but without giving the least 
notice of his parentage, or the place of his nativity. 
He appears suddenly as a prophet of the Lord, of stern 
and awful sanctity, as if he had dropped from heaven out 
of that cloudy chariot which, after his work was done 
on earth, conveyed him back to heaven. He announces 
the judgment of God in a dearth and a famine which 
continued three and a half years (Luke iv: 25 ; James 
v: 17), occasioning inconceivable distress throughout 
all the land. 

Dr. Robinson suggests that what is now called the 
Wady Kelt, formed by the uni^n of many streams in 
the mountains west of Jericho, issuing from a deep 
gorge in which it passes by that village, and crosses the 
plain to the Jordan, may be Cherith ; where Elijah was 
miraculously fed by ravens, or fed by the Arahs^ as the 
original has been interpreted, apparently for a year, 
until the brook dried up. (1 Kings xvii: 1-7; Luke 
iv : 26.) It is dry in summer, but nothing now appears 
better to represent this unknown brook. 

From this place we trace him to Zarephath, Sarepta 
of the Evangelist, on the coast of the Mediterranean, 
midw^ay between Tyre and Zidon ; where he was 
miraculously fed in connexion with the family of a poor, 
but hospitable widow. 

When is Elijah first introduced to notice ? What is known of his 
early history? What was his character? What judgment does 
he announce ? Fed by ravens, where according to Dr. Robinson ? 
What other interpretation of the term ? How long did Elijah con- 
tinue here ? Where did he then go ? 



MOUNT CARMEL. 277 

This place has been recognised by ruins near the 
sea-side, and by others up the side of the mount, at the 
distance of near a mile. Travellers are divided in 
opinion which was the ancient town. 

MOUNT CARMEL, AND ELIJAH. 

Next occur the exciting scenes of the meeting of 
Elijah with Ahab (1 Kings xviii: 1-21), and with the 
prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. This is a moun- 
tain promontory, ten or twelve hundred feet high, which 
juts boldly out into the sea, forty miles below Tyre, and 
a little more than half that distance west of Nazareth. 
It forms the south-western boundary of the Plain of 
Esdraelon. 

The mountain is overspread with verdure, and radiant 
with beauty in the distant landscape. The " excellency 
of Carmel," is the admiration of every traveller. 

The scene of the solitary prophet of the Lord standing 
around the altar for a burnt offering on this mountain, 
and challenging all the prophets of Baal, eight hundred 
and fifty-six in number, to decide who is God by calling 
down fire from heaven to consume the victim ; the fran- 
tic and vain cries of the false prophets ; the brief prayer 
of the prophet of the Lord, and the immediate and im- 
pressive answer ; the extermination of the prophets of 
Baal ; the prayer of Elijah for the relief of the dreadful 
drought and famine, and the immediate answer of abun- 
dance of rain ; all conspire to form a spectacle of su- 

Describe Mount Carmel. Distance and direction from Tyre ? 
From Nazareth ? Boundary of Esdraelon ? Distant appearance of 
the mount ? Describe the transactions here. The ravings of the 
false prophets- ? The calling down fire from Heaven ? The death 
of the prophets of Baal ? The prayer of Elijah ? The supply of rain ? 



278 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

blimity seldom equalled in the stern and awful manifes- 
tations of Divine power. (Comp. 1 Kings xviii : 21-46.) 

From admiring the stern and intrepid bearing of the 
prophet, as he stood before Ahab, himself devoted to 
death, yet slaying the prophets of that tyrant, we turn 
with wonder, to see him fleeing, in dismay, at the threats 
of Jezebel the queen. (1 Kings xix: 1-8.) Having fled 
a long distance from Samaria, through Judah to the 
wildernesss beyond, at Beer-sheba, his strength and 
spirits faint, and he longs for death. But, miraculously 
fed and sustained, he pursues his flight through that 
great and terrible wilderness quite to Horeb, the Mount 
of God. 

Here, in milder majesty, the Lord appears again 
where he had formerly displayed himself to Moses, re- 
bukes the timid, desponding prophet, and directs him to 
retrace his steps over the desert, through Judah and 
Israel, to the wilderness of Damascus beyond, in the 
land of Syria, to anoint Hazael king over that country. 
(1 Kings xix: 9-19.) Soon after this begins the inti- 
macy of Elijah with Elisha. 

SIEGE OF SAMARIA: DEFEAT OF THE SYRIANS. 

The siege of Samaria by the Syrians, w^hen they were 
defeated by what they considered ''the God of the 
hills," occurred in the nineteenth year of the reign of 
Ahab. (1 Kings xx: 1-21.) 

Describe the threats of Jezebel. Elijah's timidity and flight? 
His discouragement ? His continued flight to Horeb ? The appear- 
ance of God? Reproof of the prophet? Return of the prophet to 
Damascus ? Object in going there ? Interview with Hazael ? In- 
timacy with Elisha ? 

Describe the siege of Samaria. The defeat of the Syrians by a 
few^ young men ? Describe the second battle and defeat. 



NABOTH, AT JEZREEL. 279 

The year following they suffered another terrible de- 
feat from " the God of the valley," at Aphek, in the 
valley of Jezreel, the eastern portion of the plain of 
Esdraelon. Here, where the Philistines had formerly 
encamped before the death of Saul and Jonathan, the 
children of Israel pitched before the hosts of Ben-ha- 
dad '' like two little flocks of kids, but the Syrians filled 
the country." (Comp. 1 Kings xx : 22—35.) 

NABOTH, AT JEZREEL. 

This murderous victory was soon followed by the 
tragical events in the story of Naboth, at Jezreel. This 
city, w^here Ahab had a palace, was situated on the 
heights at the western extremity of Gilboa, and eastern 
part of Esdraelon, about twenty-five miles north of Sa- 
maria. 

It is, according to Dr. Robinson, a most magnificent 
site for a city, and commands a wide and noble view ; 
extending down the broad, low valley on the east to 
Beisan (Beth-shean), and towards the mountains of 
Ajlun, beyond the Jordan ; while, towards the west, it 
includes the whole of the great plain quite to the long 
ridge of Carmel. 

Agreeably to the prophetic denunciation, the same 
ground that drank the blood of Naboth, became in the 
retributions of Divine Providence the scene of the mas- 
sacre of Jezebel herself, her son Joram, and all the house 
of Ahab, by the hand of Jehu. 

The disastrous alliance of Jehoshaphat wdth Ahab, 

Where was Aphek? What battle had been fought there before ? 
Number of Syrians slain ? Results of the victory ? 

Story of Naboth? Where was Jezreel? Romantic situation? 
Describe the view from it. Alliance of Jehoshaphat with Ahab ? 



280 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

against the Syrians, their defeat at Ramoth-Gilead, and 
the death of Ahab, are fully detailed in the Sacred His- 
tory. With Ramoth-Gilead we have already become 
acquainted. Fourteen years after this, Joram, like his 
father Ahab, was wounded in an attempt to recover this 
place. (2 Kings viii : 28.) And here Jehu was pro- 
claimed and anointed king, from whence he w^ent to Jez- 
reel and executed the exterminating decree of heaven 
against the house of Ahab. (1 Kings xxi : 17-25 ; 2 
Kings xxviii.) 

INVASION OF JUDAH UNDER JEHOSHAPHAT. . 

Jehoshaphat survived his contemporary Ahab five 
years, during which time he attempted, without success, 
to revive the commerce of the Red Sea, at Ezion-Geber. 

His territory was also invaded by a confederate army 
of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Arabians from Edom 
(1 Kings xxii : 41-49 ; 2 Chron. xx.), who came around 
the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, and up the 
western shore as far as En-gedi, apparently before Je- 
hoshaphat had any knowledge of their invasion. 

The cliff Ziz by which they came up, Dr. Robinson 
supposes must have been the terrific pass at this place, 
which he describes as extremely perilous and difficult. 
The descent is made "by zig-zags; often at the steep- 
est angle practicable for horses.'' Sometimes the path- 
way runs along projecting shelves or perpendicular 
facings of the rock, and then descends along the precipi- 

Defeat at Ramoth-Gilead? The wound of Joram ? Jehu pro- 
claimed king, where and by whom ? Overthrow of Ahab's house ? 

History of Jehoshaphat ? Revival of commerce, when ? Terri- 
tory invaded by whom ? Course of the invading army ? Where is 
En-gedi? Describe the cliff Ziz. 



LAST ^AYS OF ELIJAH. 281 

tons sides of loose shelves, smooth and slippery as glass. 
Seen from below, it seems utterly impassable. And yet 
ancient armies have often passed and repassed these 
frightful cliffs, and loaded camels often pass them in 
safety. 

The miraculous deliverance of the pious king from 
these invaders, by their mutual slaughter, occurred in 
the wilderness of Tekoa, here called Israel. 

The valley of Berachah (benediction)^ through which 
the army returned with joy, and offering blessings to 
the Lord, is a beautiful valley leading up westward 
from Tekoa. It lies west of the Frank Mountain, and 
south of Bethlehem and Etham. On the east side of 
this valley are extensive ruins covering three or four 
acres, consisting of several cisterns and some large 
substructures. 

Jehoshaphat concluded his virtuous reign of twenty- 
five years, 893 B. C. 

LAST DAYS OF ELIJAH. 

In this stage of sacred history, Elijah reappears in 
his original character, a fearless, uncompromising re- 
prover of the idolatry of the king of Israel, who sent 
to Ekron to consult the god of the Philistines respect- 
ing the result of an injury which he had received by 
a fall. ' 

After twice calling down fire from heaven to consume 
the bands of men whom the enraged Ahaziah sent out 

Describe the deliverance of the king. Where is the wilderness 
of Tekoa ? What is it here called ? Describe the valley of Bera- 
chah. Where and v^'hat is the Frank Mountain ? Ruins, vi^hat? 

Reappearance of Elijah ? Who was king of Israel ? Occasion 
of his sending to Ekron ? Rebuke of Elijah ? Summons from the 
king ? 



282 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

to arrest him, he goes boldly into the presence of the 
king himself, and announces to him his certain death. 
(2 Kings i.) 

Elijah's last days on earth are spent in visiting and 
counselling with the prophets of the Lord in Gilgal, 
Bethel, and Jericho. Then he passes over Jordan, the 
waters dividing to give him a passage, as they had done, 
six hundred and fifty years before, for the Israelites. 
On the other side, in the presence of Elisha, he is car- 
ried by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings ii : 1-18.) 
This event occurred four or five years before the death 
of Jehoshaphat. 

THE PROPHET ELISHA. 

This prophet performs much the same part in life as 
did his predecessor Elijah. He appears on a given oc- 
casion in his miraculous character, and then retires, to 
appear again in a diflferent scene, from another quarter 
of the stage. 

He is now at Jericho, where he heals the waters, 
previously described (2 Kings ii: 15-22); then at Beth- 
el, the subject of mocking by the way (2 Kings ii : 
23-25) ; then in the wilderness of Edom, south of the 
Dead Sea, with the conjoined forces of Israel, Judah, 
and Edom. Here, in consequence of the piety of 
Jehoshaphat, the army is miraculously saved from per- 
ishing with thirst, and obtains a complete victory over 
the enemy. (2 Kings iii.) 

Death of the king's messengers ? Last days, how spent ? Where 
was Gilgal? Bethel? Jericho? Passage over Jordan ? Transla- 
tion to Heaven ? 

Investment of Elisha v^rith the spirit of Elijah? Resemblance of 
his life to that of Elijah ? Search for Elijah ? Healing of the wa- 
ters ? Where is this fountain previously described ? Mocked by 
children ? 



DAMASCUS. 283 

Elisha next relieves the poor widow of a deceased 
prophet from the exactions of an oppressive creditor ; 
but in what place this miracle was wrought we are not 
informed. (2 Kings iv: 1-8.) 

Then he is at Shunem ; and frequently passes be- 
tween this place and Mount Carmel. 

Shunem is on an eminence at the western end of 
Little Hermon, three miles north of Jezreel ; and over- 
looks the whole plain of Esdraelon to Carmel in the 
west. 

Here he is hospitably entertained by the wife of a 
rich Shunamite, to whom he gives promise of a son ; 
and, in process of time, restores to life this deceased 
son. (2 Kings iv: 8-37.) 

Again he comes to Gilgal, and neutralizes the poison 
which had been accidentally mingled with the food of 
the prophets ; he feeds a hundred of them with twenty 
barley loaves, and a few ears of corn which had been 
presented to him by a man from the unknown town of 
Baal-shalisha. (2 Kings iv: 38 seq.) 

The healing of a Syrian nobleman, captain of the 
host of the king of Syria, is the next act of the prophet ; 
but the scene of this interesting story of Naaman is 
not specified. 

DAMASCUS. 

Damascus, from whence Naaman came, lies in a 
plain east of Anti-Libanus, about fifty miles from the 
Mediterranean and one hundred and fifty north-by-east 

Relief of the poor widow ? Visits to Shunem ? Situation of Shu- 
nem ? Entertained by the Shunamite ? Death and restoration of 
her son ? Healing the poisoned pottage at Gilgal ? Interview with 
Naaman ? 

Situation of Damascus ? Distance and bearing from Jerusalem ? 



284 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

from Jerusalem. In the midst of surrounding sterility, 
the city itself is embosomed in gardens and orchards of 
surpassing richness, and overshadowed with the deepest 
verdure and richest luxuriance of oriental foliage. 

It is a charming oasis in a desert, a terrestrial para- 
dise, the admiration of every traveller. '' Oh, how 
lovely," exclaims Lord Lindsay, «« the city with her 
picturesque minarets, sailing like a fleet through a sea 
of verdure!" It is fabled of Mohammed, that when 
he looked at it, he exclaimed, " Man can have only one 
paradise ; I shall not enter this below, lest I should 
have hone above." 

" I was riding at the head of the caravan, at a few 
paces behind the Arabs of Zebdami. They suddenly 
stopped shorty and uttering exclamations of joy, pointed 
to an opening in the rock on our right; I approached, 
and looking through the cleft, I beheld the grandest 
and most singular prospect that ever presented itself to 
the eye of man. It was Damascus and its boundless 
desert, lying at the depth of a few hundred feet below 
us. 

«' The city, surrounded by its ramparts of black and 
yellow marble, flanked by its innumerable square 
towers, crowned by sculptured cranies, commanded by 
its farest of minarets of every form, and intersected by 
the seven branches of its river and its numberless 
streams, extended as far as the eye could reach. It was 
a labyrinth of gardens and flowers, thrusting its suburbs 
here and there in the vast plain, encircled by its forest 

Gardens and orchards ? Luxuriant vegetation ? Contrast with 
the country around ? Exclamation of Lord Lindsay? Saying of 
Mohanamed ? Description by Lamartine ? Appearance of the build- 
ings of the city intermingled with foliage of trees ? Extent of for- 
ests and gardens ? Variegated landscape ? 



DAMASCUS. 285 

often leagues in circumference, and everywhere shaded 
by groves of sycamores, and trees of every form and 

hue. 

<« From time to time the city seemed lost beneath the 
umbrageous canopies of these trees, and then again re- 
appeared, spreading into broad lakes of houses, suburbs, 
and villages, interspersed with labyrinths of orchards, 
palaces, and streamlets. Our eyes were bewildered, 
and only turned from one enchantment to fix upon 
another. 

" I understand that Arabian traditions represent this 
city and its neighbourhood to form the site of the lost 
Paradise ; and certainly I should think that no place 
upon earth was better calculated to answer one's idea 
of Eden. 

«' The vast and fruitful plain, with the seven branches 
of the blue stream which irrigates it; the majestic 
framework of the mountains ; the glittering lakes which 
reflect the heaven upon the earth ; its geographical 
situation between the two seas ; the perfection of the 
climate : — everything indicates that Damascus has at 
least been one of the first towns that were ever built by 
the children of men — one of the natural halts of fugitive 
humanity in primeval times. It is in fact one of those 
sites pointed out by the hand of God for a city — a site 
predestined to sustain a capital, like Constantinople. 

'' These are perhaps the only two cities which could 
not possibly have taken their post in an empire from 
arbitrary selection ; but which were palpably indicated 
by the configuration of the places. So long as the earth 
shall bear empires upon her surface, Damascus will 

Advantages of the place ? Antiquity of it ? Comparison with 
Constantinople ? 



286 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHV. 

continue to be a great city, and Stamboul the metropo- 
lis of the world. 

" On emerging from the desert, and entering on the 
plains of Coele-Syria, and the valleys of Galilee, the 
caravans of India need repose — -and they find a spot of 
enchantment at Damascus. Commerce is there upheld 
by industry. Damascus is, like Lyons, one vast manu- 
factory. Its population, according to some, reaches 
four hundred thousand souls ; according to others, only 
two hundred thousand."* 

This scene of loveliness is created by the fertilizing 
influence of the river Barada, formed from the united 
waters of Abana and Pharphar. These waters, con- 
ducted through the gardens, groves, and orchards of 
Damascus, create, under an oriental sky, this enchanting 
scene of exuberance and beauty. These forests and 
orchards extend north and south some thirty miles, and 
half of this distance in width. 

Abana and Pharphar, these rivers of Damascus, spring 
from the lofty sides of Lebanon, a few miles north-west 
of the city, and rush down a rapid descent of a thou- 
sand feet into the plains below. 

Pharphar arises from the highest and most distant 
source, and is the principal stream, though Abana sup- 
plies the largest volume of water. This river gushes 
from a limestone rock under the foundations of an ancient 
temple, a deep, rapid stream of about thirty feet in width, 
pure and cold as iced water. It is the coldest and short- 
est river in the world, rushing, for about one hundred 

Population of the city ? River Barada ? Its fertilizing influence ? 
Formed from what rivers ? Abana and Pharphar ? Origin and 
course of them ? Source of Pharphar ? Source of Abana ? Size of 
the stream ? Coldness of its w^aters ? Length of its course ? 



♦Lamartine, vol. ii. 113-115 j 133, 134. 



DAMASCUS. 287 

yards, in broken cascades, into the Barada, the ancient 
Pharphar, "rapid and furious, issuing from between 
precipices, Hke a maniac from his confinement, — all foam 
and uproar.'^ 

Damascus has been, from time immemorial, a place of 
immense travel and trade between countries north and 
south and east and west of it ; by which means it has 
accumulated great wealth. 

Many houses of its merchants, though presenting a 
rude and uninteresting exterior, to disguise the wealth 
within, are fitted up in the interior in a style of princely 
magnificence. 

It was a flourishing city in the days of Abraham, in 
whose history it first comes into notice, as the native 
place of his faithful and pious servant, Eliezer. It is, 
probably, the oldest inhabited city in the world. 

It was the capital of the Syrians, those early inva- 
ders and lasting foes of the Israelites. It still has a 
long street, running more than a mile in a direct line, 
through the city wall, corresponding to the street called 
^Straighf in the days of the apostles. (Acts ix: 11.) 

Venerable city! sole survivor of cities, states, and 
empires that have arisen, flourished, and fallen around 
her ! There she stands, like an ancient pillar in a desert, 
lone and lofty amidst the waste of ages. Venerable city ! 
venerable for her great antiquity, and for the strange 
vicissitudes of peace and war, prosperity and adversity, 
that in the long lapse of years have passed over her : — 

Compared to what? Trade of Damascus? Travel through it? 
Houses of its merchants ? Exterior, why rude ? Style of the inte- 
rior ? First notice of Damascus ? Capital of what people? Street 
called Straight ? Venerable for what, in age ? In the history of 
events ? 



288 . , HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

for ever memorable for that marvellous vision of the Son 
of God, which at her gates burst upon Saul the persecu- 
tor ; accompanied with the startling cry — Saul, Saul, why 
persecutest thou me, which caused him to fall, trembling 
and astonished, to the earth, and to exclaim — Lord, 
what wilt thou have me to do ? (Acts ix : 6 ; xxii : 10.) 

HISTORY OF ELISHA. 

To return to the history of Elisha: — he is with the 
prophets who are cutting timber on the banks of the 
Jordan, where he recovers an axe that had fallen into 
the river. 

Again, he is at Dothan, supposed by some to have 
been in the valley between the mountains of Little Her- 
mon and Gilboa, by others, a few miles north of Sama- 
ria. Here the Syrians, sent for his arrest, are smitten 
with blindness, and led into the presence of the king at 
Samaria. (2 Kings vi.) 

Passing the incidents of the horrible famine when 
the mother was constrained to subsist on the flesh of 
her own offspring, and the sudden plenty by the retreat 
of the Syrians (2 Kings vi : 24 seq. ; vii.), we find 
Elisha himself, for reasons which do not appear in his 
history, at Damascus, where he assures Ben-hadad of 
his speedy death. (2 Kings viii : 1-15.) 

Next he commissions a prophet to go to Ramoth- 
Gilead, to anoint Jehu to be king. 

For ever memorable for what ? Describe the miraculous arrest 
and conversion of Saul. 

Elisha causing the prophet's axe to swim ? Scene of this mira- 
cle? Where was Dothan? Attempt of the Syrians to capture Elisha? 
Their own capture ? Horrible famine ? Sudden plenty, how 
caused ? Elisha at Damascus, why ? Interview with Ben-hadad ? 
Where is Ramoth-Gilead ? Prophet sent there for what ? 



HISTORY OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 289 

Elisha now disappears from the page of history for 
half a century, and even his final resting-place in his 
grave is unknown ; though we are informed of the inci- 
dents of his sickness and burial. (2 Kings xiii : 14 seq.) 
He exercised the prophetic office through several suc- 
cessive reigns in Israel for the space of seventy years, 
and died at a great age. 

HISTORY OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 

The history of Judah and Israel, in the interval be- 
tween the anointing of Jehu and the death of Elisha, 
offers little worthy of geographical notice. In connexion 
with the revolt of Edom, in the reign of Jehoram the 
son of Jehoshaphat, and before the reign of Jehu, the 
town of Zair is mentioned as a place of rendezvous for 
the forces of Jehoram. (2 Kings viii: 21.) Nothing 
further is known of the place. 

The revolt of Libnah is noticed in the same connex- 
ion as though it were a town of Edom. (2 Kings viii : 
22 ; 2 Chron. xxi : 10.) It is understood, however, to 
be the levitical city of Judah, on the plains in the neigh- 
bourhood of Eleutheropolis, west and north of Hebron. 
Frequent mention has been made of the place. Its 
locality has not been discovered. The revolt is 
ascribed to the idolatry which had been introduced, in 
which Libnah, a city of the priesthood, refused to join. 

Jezreel, where Jehu fulfilled the dreadful denuncia- 

Subsequent life of Elisha ? Sickness and burial ? Continuance 
in the prophetic office ? What is known of the last fifty years of 
his life ? 

Revolt of Edom ? In whose reign ? What is said of Zair ? Re- 
volt of Libnah ? Where wsls Libnah ? In what connexion has it 
been mentioned before ? Occasion of the revolt ? Prophetic denun- 
ciation against Ahab and Jezebel ? 
19 



290 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

tion which had been uttered by Elijah twenty years 
before against Ahab and Jezebel (2 Kings ix.), has be- 
come familiar to us in the preceding history. 

Megiddo, to which Ahaziah fled, has already been 
described. It was ten miles west of Jezreel. Of Gur 
and Ibleam we only know, from the narrative, that they 
must have been between Jezreel and Megiddo. (2 
Kings ix : 27-29.) 

In the reign of Jehu, the Syrians greatly reduced the 
kingdom of Israel, by the conquest of the country east 
of Jordan, as far south as Aroer, on the river Arnon, 
which empties into the Dead Sea near the middle of its 
eastern shore. (2 Kings x: 32, 33.) 

Amaziah, king of Judah, about 825 B. C. made a 
.successful expedition against the Edomites, over whom 
he gained a decisive victory in the Valley of Salt, south 
of the Dead Sea. 

On the south-western shore of the Dead Sea there is a 
vast mountain of salt, extending westward a distance of 
five miles or more, and of a height variously estimated 
from one hundred to four hundred feet. This immense 
mass of mineral salt is but slightly mixed with earthy 
matter, and of itself sufficiently accounts for the intense 
saltness of the waters of the sea, and its extraordinary 
specific gravity. 

At a short distance in advance of the headland of 
this mountain, and near the water's edge, is, according 

Fulfilment of them ? Fate of Ahab of Jezebel ? Who was Aha- 
ziah ? Flight ? What is said of Gur and Ibleam ? W^here were 
they? Conquest of the Syrians ? Where was Aroer ? Where does 
the river Arnon empty ? Who was Amaziah ? When did he reign ? 
Where was the Valley of Salt ? What is supposed to be the cause 
of the saltness of the waters of the Dead Sea ? 



PETRA. 291 

to the report of Lieutenant Lynch, a singular pillar of 
the same mineral salt, forty feet or more in height, and 
several feet in diameter. It would seem to be but a 
detached fragment of the mountain, which has resisted 
the action of the elements which have sundered it from 
the original formation. However curious it may be to 
the geologist, it has apparently no connexion with the 
monument which is said to have commemorated the 
visitation of Divine displeasure upon Lot's wife. 

PETRA. 

In the same expedition, Amaziah took also Selah, the 
capital of the Edomites, afterwards known by the name 
of Joktheel, which is now generally identified with the 
ancient city of Petra. 

This wonderful city was known as one of great 
strength and immense trade, some centuries before the 
Christian era. It was such in the third century, under 
the power of the Romans ; but all knowledge of it had 
been totally lost to Europeans, until the last thirty or 
forty years. Burckhardt has the honour of having dis- 
covered its forgotten ruins in 1811. Since that time it 
has been fully explored and described by many travel- 
lers. 

During the oblivion of ages, from which it has just 
emerged, it had become utterly waste and desolate, 
without an inhabitant, yet presenting in its stupendous 

Lieutenant Lynch's report ? What does this pillar of salt appear 
to have originally been ? 

What were the names of the city which Amaziah took ? Modern 
name of it ? Wonderful history of it ? When known ? How long 
lost ? When discovered and by whom ? Condition into which it 
had fallen ? 



292 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

ruins a scene of magnificent desolation, without a paral- 
lel in the world. 

It is wonderful for situation, also, above all the as- 
sembled habitations of man ; grand, gloomy, and pecu- 
liar, it lies in its deep and hidden recesses, the wonder 
of the world. In the midst of the wild and terrible 
scenery of mountain and desert, it is surrounded by 
towering rocks and crags, which guard in gloomy 
silence the dark abyss in which it is enshrined. 

Petra is in the mountains of Edom, midway between 
the Dead Sea and the eastern arm of the Red Sea, on* 
the east of Mount Hor, and at its base. From the sum- 
mit of Mount Hor, the very mount of desolation itself, 
on looking down upon the confused scenery of rock and 
crag and mountain height, and cleft and chasm, you 
notice a deep depression, in the form of an irregular 
parallelogram, of a mile in length and a variable width 
of half a mile. At the bottom of this chasm Petra is 
situated. 

The walls of this deep abyss are perpendicular in 
almost every direction, and from four hundred to six or 
seven hundred feet high. These perpendicular walls 
are pierced by many crevices or side valleys, which, at 
unequal distances, come to an abrupt termination 
among the overhanging cliffs. These deep cuts and 
foldings of the perpendicular breastwork endlessly diver- 
sify the outline, and enlarge it to the extent of four miles 
or more. 

Magnificence of its ruins ? Wonderful situation of it ? Scenery 
around it ? Where is this city ? From the Dead Sea ? From the 
Ailanitic Gulf? From Mount Hor? View of it from this moun- 
tain ? Plan or form of it ? Wall of it, what and how^ high ? Crevices 
and side valleys ? Extent how enlarged ? Circumference of the 
city? 



PETE A. 293 

One of these clefts on the east^ called the Syke, leads 
up by a gradual ascent to the summit of the heights 
above, and opens a narrow passage for admission to the 
city, sometimes not more than ten or twelve feet in 
width, between the rough and frowning w^alls on each 
side, which seem ready to collapse and crush the tra- 
veller, or imbed him in their bosom. This frightful pass 
is the principal line of communication with the city. 
On the north and the south, the breastwork of rocks 
opens a single pass through which a camel -can with 
difficulty find his way into the city. 

One small stream runs down the eastern pass, by 
which the city was supplied with water. Grooves are 
everywhere cut around the sides of the w^alls, to col- 
lect every drop of the precious treasure which trickles 
down their sides, and to convey it off to cisterns and 
reservoirs for the use of the inhabitants. Many of these 
reservoirs, cut in the solid rock, still remain in a good 
state of preservation. 

The area at the bottom in whole or in part was occu- 
pied with the buildings and streets and public prome- 
nades of this ancient metropolis, of which only one 
solitary palace remains. It is square, and about thirty- 
five paces along each side. 

The front towards the north was ornamented with a 
row of columns, four of which are standing. An open 
piazza back of the colonnade extends the whole length 
of the building. A noble arch, thirty-five or forty feet 

Access to the city? Name of it? Dimensions of it? What 
other means of access to the city ? What stream of water supplied 
the city ? Measures for procuring other supplies ? How retained 
for use ? What remains of them ? How was the ground-plan occu- 
pied ? What structure remains here ? Describe the front ? The 
colonnade ? The piazza ? The arch ? 



294 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

high, leads to one of the apartments. The building is 
called by the Arabs, ^^ Pharaoh's house.'' 

But the most wonderful remains of this ancient city 
are the excavations in the perpendicular facings of 
the rocks which enclose it. The city seems actually 
to have been carried on all sides for several hundred 
feet up these perpendicular walls of solid rock, out of 
which innumerable apartments, of every conceivable 
form and size, have been chiselled for the service of 
men. 

It is generally conceded that these excavations were 
not merely depositories for the dead, but were used also 
for private dwellings, for theatres and temples. 

They occupy not only the front but the sides of various 
ravines and recesses, which are sunk into the face of the 
enclosure in every direction. In a direct line these 
excavations would extend five or six miles, and are 
sometimes carried up to the summit of the rocks. The 
ascent to them was by flights of stairs cut out of the 
rock, and running obliquely up the perpendicular face 
of it. 

Many of these apartments are adorned in front with 
curious ornamental work, facades, columns, and statues 
all hewn out of the rock, and still adhering as a part 
of it. Both nature and art combine to lend a strange 
charm, like a scene of enchantment, to these wonderful 
ruins. 

" Nothing contributes so much to the almost magical 
effect of some of these monuments as the rich and vari- 

Name given by the Arabs ? What are the most wonderful re- 
mains of the city ? Describe the excavations in the perpendicular 
walls ? What was the object of these excavations ? Extent of 
them in height ? In length ? Ascent to them how ornamented ? 
What embellishments of nature ? Various colours in the rock ? 



PETRA. 295 

ous colours of the rock out of which, or, more properly, 
in which they are formed. 

" Many of them are adorned with such a profusion 
of the most lovely and brillant colours as, I believe, it 
is quite impossible to describe. Red, purple, yellow, 
azure or sky-blue, black, and white, are seen in the 
same mass distinctly in successive layers, or blended 
so as to form every shade and hue of which they are 
capable — as brilliant and as soft as they ever appear in 
flowers or in the plumage of birds, or in the sky when 
illuminated by the most glorious sunset. The red per- 
petually shades into pale, or deep rose or flesh colour. 
The purple is sometimes very dark, and again ap- 
proaches the hue of the lilac or violet. 

<« The white, which is often as pure as snow, is oc- 
casionally just dashed wdth blue or red. The blue is 
usually the pale azure of the clear sky or of the ocean, 
but sometimes has the deep and peculiar shade of the 
clouds in summer when agitated by a tempest."* 

The opening of the Syke on the east is adorned by 
two splendid facades ; further up, in one of its gloomy 
recesses among the tombs, is an immense theatre, capa- 
ble of seating five thousand spectators ; and further still 
is the most attractive of these ruins, the Treasury of Pha- 
raoh. It is an immense temple cut out of the facing of 
the rock, with a*front highly ornamented, exhibiting an 
exquisite piece of architecture. The pinnacle of the 
temple, at the height of a hundred feet, is surmounted 
by a beautiful urn. 

EiFect of them ? Situation and extent of the theatre ? Describe 
the Treasury of Pharaoh. 

* Dr. Olin, vol. ii. 22, 23. 



296 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

On the mountain west of the town there is also a vast 
temple ; the front of it is forty-eight paces in length, 
and adorned with eight immense columns. The tem« 
pie stands upon one of the highest, wildest crags of the 
mountain, the sides of which have been hewn down and 
carried away. So that the temple stands a single piece 
of carved work chiselled out of the moantain— a stupen- 
dous work of an unknown people, at an age equally 
unknown. 

This mysterious and devoted city and country was 
frequently the subject of prophetic denunciations, which 
are strikingly fulfilled in the gloomy desolations of 
Petra. (Isa. xxxiv ; Jer. xlix ; Ezek. xxxv.) 

Soon after his victory over Edom, and the capture of 
Selah, Amaziah challenged Jehoash, king of Israel, to 
battle, in consequence of the murders and robberies 
committed by the troops whom he had dismissed ; and 
was himself overcome and taken prisoner at Beth-she- 
mesh. 

Amaziah was restored to his throne, but Jerusalem 
was, at the same time, taken ; its walls were broken 
down in part, and the treasures of the temple, and of 
the king's house, carried away to Samaria. (2 Kings 
xiv : 8--14.) Several years after this he was assassinated 
at Lachish. 

AZARIAH, KING OF JUDAH. 

Under Azarlah, called also Uzziah, Judah had a sea- 
son of prosperity, during his long reign of half a cen- 

Situation of the temple on the western naountain ? Describe the 
temple. Prophetic denunciations against the city and country ? 
Occasion of the battle between Amaziah and Jehoash? Where 
fought, and the result of it ? 

Character of Azariah's reign ? 



THE ENTERING OF HAMATH. 297 

tury, from 809 to 760 B. C. This king restored the lost 
territory of Judah, and extended its borders again to 
the Red Sea ; on the head waters of which he again 
built El ath, near Ezi on- Geber. (2 Chron. xxvi ; 2 Kings 
xiv:21,22.) 

He extended his conquests also into the land of the 
Philistines. Ashdod and Gath, whose walls he broke 
down, have been already described. Jebnah was in the 
northern part of Philistia, nearly west of Ekron, and 
midway between H and the sea, at the distance of three 
or four miles from the coast. 

The modern name of the place is Yebua. It is situ- 
ated on a small eminence, on which are the ruins of an 
ancient church. The Arabians of Gur-Baal are in the 
Septuagint styled «' the Arabians that dwelt above 
Petra." They and the Mehunims were doubtless tribes 
in Arabia Petrsea. 

REIGN OF JEROBOAM II. 

Jeroboam, the contemporary of Uzziah, was equally 
successful against the Syrians. He recovered all the 
conquests which they had made during the reigns of 
Jehu and Jehoahaz, and restored to the empire its 
ancient boundaries, from Hamath to the Dead Sea, the 
sea of the plain, as Jonah, the son of Amittai, had pre- 
dicted. (2 Kings xiv : 23-29.) 

THE ENTERING OF HAMATH. 

This place, of which such frequent mention is made 
as the northern limit of the territory of the Israelites, has 

Continuance and date of it? Results of it? Where was Gath, 
Ashdod, and Jehnah ? Situation and ruins of it ? 
What is said of .Teroboana's reign ? 
What does the entering of Hamath denote ? 



298 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

been recently explored by our missionary, the Rev. Mr. 
Thompson. It is a narrow pass between Lebanon and 
Anti-Lebanon, at the head of the great valley of Cosle- 
Syria, above Baalbec, at the head waters of the Orontes, 
which runs north and west one hundred and fifty miles 
into the north-eastern coast of the Mediterranean, and a 
little above the source of the Leontes, which runs south- 
west eighty-five miles into the same sea, above Tyre. 

The two mountain ridges come close together, while 
the Orontes, rushing out from the base of the mountain, 
at the head of a wild and savage gorge, forms at once 
the largest river in Syria, with the exception, perhaps, 
of the Jordan, and sets in a furious current directly 
across the plain towards Anti-Lebanon. The quantity 
of water is prodigious, clear as crystal and cold as the 
snow of Lebanon. 

This almost impassable river forms the natural boun- 
dary of the kingdom of Hamath on the south, and the 
limit of the land promised to Israel on the north. " Here, 
I suppose," continues our traveller, ''was the 'entering 
in' of the land of Hamath." 

Hamath was settled soon after the flood by one of the 
sons of Canaan. It clearly defines the northern boun- 
dary of the Land of Promise. Our traveller's account 
of this interesting and important locality is as follows : 

" Hamath is mentioned in all the accounts of the 
northern border of the promised land, by Moses, Joshua, 
Ezekiel, and Zechariah, and in one connexion or an- 
other, it is met with in nearly half the books of the 
Bible. It has never changed its name, except amongst 

Where was it ? At the head of what rivers and valley ? Describe 
them. The entering of Hamath ? Original settlement of Hamath ? 
Importance of this locality ? 



THE ENTERING OF HAMATH. 299 

the Macedonian Greeks, who called it Epiphania, in 
honour of Antiochus Epiphanes. But, with the dynasty, 
this foreign name also disappeared. Thus it appears 
that but few sites in ancient geography are so certainly 
ascertained as this of Hamath. And yet, since the days 
of Jerome, at least, there has been much confusion in 
regard to it. 

" Hamath has not only been a well-known city from 
the very earliest times, but it has never ceased to be the 
capital of a kingdom, or of a province, known by this 
name. Before the time of David, the kingdom of Ha- 
math included, as I suppose, the province of Zobah, the 
Chalcis of the Greeks and Romans, the Kunsarin of the 
Arabs. By the time David rose into power, Hadadezer 
had become king of Zobah, and the enemy of Toi, king 
of Hamath, probably because he had erected a rival 
kingdom out of a part of Toi's dominions. Hence Toi 
sent to congratulate David upon his victory over Ha- 
dadezer. (2 Sam. viii : 10.) 

^' This supposition also explains 2 Chron. viii : 3, 
4, where Solomon is said to have built stone cities 
in Hamath, that is, Hamath-Zobah, that part of the ori- 
ginal kingdom of Hamath which Solomon's father had 
conquered from Hadadezer. We are not to suppose 
that Solomon fought against Toi or his son, but merely 
built cities in the provinces conquered by David, of 
which Palmyra was the most celebrated. Modern Ha- 
math is a large town, containing at least thirty thousand 
inhabitants. There are about twenty- five hundred 



What was Hamath called under the Macedonian dynasty ? What 
did the kingdom of Hamath include before the time of David ? King 
of Zobah in David's time? Cities built by Solomon in Hamath? 
Population of modern Hamath ? 



'\ 



K 



300 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Greek Christians, a few Syrians, and some Jews ; the 
rest are Moslems."* 

The reader may profitably compare, in this connexion, 
the following passages : Gen. x : 18 ; Num. xxxiv : 8 ; 
Josh, xiii : 5; Judges iii:3; 1 Kings viii: 65; 2 
Chron. viii: 8. 

Tiphsah, smitten by the usurper Menahem (2 Kings 
XV : 16), appears to be a city near Tirzah, the former 
capital of Israel ; but the situation of both of these places 
seems to be irrecoverably lost. Tirzah, mentioned in 
this connexion, is to be distinguished from that of the 
same name, the ancient Thapsacus on the Euphrates, 
to which Solomon extended his empire. ^1 Kings iv : 
24,) 

THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. 

This empire here comes again into notice, after an 
oblivion, in sacred history, of some fifteen hundred 
years. (Gen, x : 11, 12.) 

That ancient empire is, however, to be carefully dis- 
tinguished from the modern, which now becomes inti- 
mately connected with Jewish history. It rose suddenly 
into great power, and continued about a hundred and 
fifty years, when it was merged in the Chaldee-Babylo- 
nian empire after a war of three years. 

Nineveh, its capital, founded at that early age, and now 
a large and flourishing, but wicked city, begins to be the 
frequent subject of prophetic denunciation. Thesemo- 
dern Assyrians, in the subsequent history of the kings 

What incident at Tiphsah ? Where was it ? The two Tirzahs, 
where ? 

Assyrian empire ? Where first mentioned ? Again brought into 
notice ? Hostility to Israel and Judah ? 

*Bib. Sacra, vol. v. 680, 681. 



NINEVEH. 301 

of Judah and Israel, become their most formidable foe, 
and their most frequent invaders. These invaders 
extend their conquests over the whole territory of the 
Syrians, lying between them and Palestine ; and wdthin 
half a century, repeatedly invade Palestine. They even 
wage successful war with the distant empire of Egypt, 
and bound their dominion on the west, by the coast of 
the Mediterranean. 

NINEVEH. 

Nineveh was built on the Tigris, from two hundred 
and fifty to three hundred miles above Babylon, near 
the modern Mosul, and in the neighbourhood of the 
Nestorians, in whom the American churches have 
become so much interested by reason of their mis- 
sionary establishments among them. 

This ancient city was of an extent fully equal, if not 
superior to that of Babylon itself. Some writers esti- 
mate it to have been forty-eight, and others sixty miles 
in circumference. It was surrounded by a wall a hun- 
dred feet high, and so broad that three carriages could 
be driven abreast on them. Upon the wall stood also 
fifteen hundred towers, each two hundred feet in height. 

In the days of Jonah, there were in it a hundred and 
twenty thousand children, who knew not their right 
hand from their left; which, according to the usual 
rate of calculation, requires us to estimate the popula- 
tion at two millions of souls. Her merchants are said 
by Nahum to have been more in number than the stars 
of Heaven. (Nahum iii : 16.) In the book of Jonah it 
is described as an exceeding great city of three days' 

Invasions and conquests ? 

Nineveh, where built ? Extent ? Wall and towers ? Popula- 
tion? 



302 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

journey. He went himself a day'' s journey into the city, 
that is, apparently, he went so far towards the heart of 
the city before he began his prophetic cry against it. 

THE PROPHET JONAH. 

To this account of Nineveh we subjoin the geographi- 
cal notices connected with the life of Jonah. He lived 
in the reign of Jeroboam H., 824-783 B. C. His 
native place was Gath-hepher (2 Kings xiv : 25), which 
is supposed to have been in Galilee, at no great dis- 
tance north- w^est from Nazareth, and south-west from 
Cana. 

Joppa, to which he repaired in his vain endeavour to 
flee from the presence of the Lord, is the principal port 
on the Mediterranean, for the trade of Jerusalem, about 
thirty-two miles distant, and more than twice that dis- 
tance from his native place. 

Joppa stands on a rocky, oblong hill, the houses and 
streets regularly rising one above another in tiers, 
according to the elevation of the different strata forming 
the site of the buildings. Neither the houses nor the 
walls of the place are by any means so despicable as 
they are often represented to be. 

Near the eastern gate is a cistern highly ornamented, 
containing an Arabic inscription. The market is sup- 
plied with a great profusion of fruit. The best build- 
ings lie along the street contiguous to the sea, including 
the principal stores of the merchants. The harbour is 
small, and the waters too shoal to admit any but ves- 

Period of Jonah? Native place? Where is Joppa? Why at 
Joppa ? What is the present appearance of Joppa ? Cistern ? 
Market ? Where are the principal buildings ? What is said of its 
harbour ? 



RUINS OF NINEVEH. 303 

sels of very small size. It is unsafe, by reason of 
hidden rocks and its exposure to high winds. 

Joppa is remarkable as the residence of Cornelius 
the centurion, the first Gentile convert, to whom Peter 
was sent. (Acts x.) 

From the shore on which Jonah was thrown, a jour- 
ney of some five hundred miles awaited him, over the 
mountains and deserts, to the devoted city against 
which his denunciations from the Lord were directed. 

Other prophets, as Isaiah, Nahum, and Zephaniah, 
predicted also the overthrow of Nineveh. The entire 
prophecy of Nahum is occupied with the burden of 
Nineveh. (In connexion with the book of Jonah com- 
pare Isa. xiv : 24 seq. ; Zeph. ii : 13 ; Ezek. xxxi.) 

These prophecies received their fulfilment in the de- 
struction of Nineveh by the Medes and Babylonians, 
625 B.C. 

RUINS OF NINEVEH. 

The ruins of Nineveh, consisting of ditches, walls, 
and mounds, occupy an area two miles broad and four 
miles long. On the west, north, and south, there was 
one w^all ; on the east side there are the remains of three 
walls. These ruins appear to be only the remains of 
the citadel or royal precincts. ^« Out of the house of thy 
gods will I cut oflT the graven image, and the molten 
image ; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile." 
" Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and rob- 
bery." (Nahum i : 14 ; iii : 1 seq.) 

We subjoin an account, by Professor Edwards, of the 
excavations at Khorsabad, a few miles north of the sup- 
Journey to Nineveh? Other predictions against Nineveh ? How 
were these predictions fuliilled ? 
Ruins of Nineveh ? Antiquity of them ? 



304 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

posed ruins of Nineveh, and these may have been indeed 
a part of that great city : — 

'(• The date of the ruins is still a mystery. As a 
proof of their extreme antiquity, it is stated that the 
earliest buildings in Nimrood were buried, and that the 
earth which had accumulated over them, was used as 
a cemetery 700 B. C. Mr. Layard conjectured that the 
buildings dated from 1200 B. C. The rooms w^ere lined 
with slabs of marble, covered with bas-reliefs. The 
door-w^ays w^ere flanked by winged figures of greater 
height than the slabs ; on all these figures was the mark 
of blood, as if thrown against them and allowed to 
trickle down. 

" The walls were of sun-dried bricks, and where they 
rose above the sculptured slabs, they were covered with 
paintings. The beams, where they remained, were of 
mulberry. The buildings w^ere provided with a com- 
plete system of sewerage, each room having had a drain 
connected with a main sew^er. Among the ruins, a 
small chamber was discovered, formed of bricks, regu-* 
larly arched. Many of the bas-reliefs appeared to have 
been taken from other buildings and re-used. 

^'Many of the paintings and sculptures, copied by 
M. Flandin at Khorsabad, have been carefully engraved 
at the expense of the late government of France. 
Through the kindness of a friend, we have been per- 
mitted to examine between thirty and forty of these 
splendid and costly engravings. As works of art they 
are attractive, but as exact transcripts of the scenes and 
objects of a hoary antiquity, they are inestimable. 

" The most obvious impression communicated by 

Excavation and discoveries ? Ruins ? Arches ? Paintings ? 
Sculptures? 



JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 305 

these pictures, is the strangeness of the physiognomy of 
the men — its unlikeness to the races now existing in Cen- 
tral Asia. They seem to belong to a race or family now 
unknown. All the figures indicate great physical de- 
velopement, animal propensities very strongly marked, 
a calm, settled ferocity, a perfect nonchalance amidst 
the most terrible scenes ; no change of feature takes 
place, w^hether the individual is inflicting or experien- 
cing horrid suffering. ' Their bows also dash the young 
men to pieces ; they have no pity on the fruit of the 
womb ; their eye doth not spare children.' 

''The pictures are very remarkable as indicating the 
entire absence of the higher mental and moral qualities, 
and the exuberance of the brutal part of man's nature. 
At the same time, there is not wanting a certain con- 
sciousness of dignity and of inherent power. There is 
a tranquil energy and fixed determination which wdll 
not allow the beholder to feel any contempt for these 
stern warriors.'"^ 

These paintings are a faithful delineation of the 
character of the Assyrians, as sketched by the pen of 
inspiration : '' They are terrible and dreadful ; their 
judgment and their dignity shall proceed of them- 
selves." ''And they shall scoff at the kings, and the 
princes shall be a scorn unto them ; they shall deride 
every stronghold, for they shall heap up dust (a mound) 
and take it." 

JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 

To return to the history of Judah and Israel. Mena- 
hem was the first to yield to the rising power of the 

Character exhibited in these paintings? In the Scriptures ? 



* Bib. Sacra, vol. v. 552, 553. 
20 



806 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Assyrian kings. At the price of an impoverishing drain 
upon the wealth of his provinces, and of the nation, he 
purchased peace with Pul, the Assyrian king, 770 B. C. 
(2 Kings XV : 19, 20.) 

About thirty years later, Tiglath-Pileser, the succes- 
sor of Pul, at the request of Ahaz, a weak, wicked, and 
cowardly prince, who disgraced the throne of David, 
returned and made a conquest of Syria and Galilee, and 
all the territory east of Jordan. 

Several places are mentioned which indicate the pro- 
gress of the invading army, through Naphthali, west of 
Mount Hermon, and the Waters of Merom. Ijon, Hazor, 
Abel-beth-maachah, and Kedesh, are all identified as 
on the line of march from north to south, towards the 
plain of Esdraelon. (2 Kings xv: 29.) From Galilee, 
the army appears to have turned eastward for the con- 
quest of Galilee beyond Jordan. 

Rezin, the king of Syria, was slain, and his principal 
men were carried away captive and colonized in the 
mountainous country, WTst of the Caspian Sea, on the 
river Kir (Cyrus), a branch of the Araxes, which flows 
into that sea. Thus terminated the Syrian empire, 740 
B. C. '' A people of a foreign aspect," says Jahn, 
" dw^ell there at this time, who may be the descendants 
of these captives." 

Many of the Israelites, and particularly the tribes of 
Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, were also carried into 
captivity, and settled in the Assyrian empire. 

The occasion of this invasion of Tiglath-Pileser, was 

Describe the invasion. Purchase of peace ? Invasion of Tiglath- 
Pileser, how incited ? Progress of his advance ? Extent of his 
conquest ? Return ? End of the Syrian empire ? Where carried 
captive ? What tribes of Israel were sent into captivity ? 



JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 307 

as follows: Pekah, king of Israel, and Rezin, king of 
Syria, had conspired together against Judah (2 Kings 
xvi ; 5) ; though in the siege of Jerusalem they were 
not successful (Isa. vii : 1-9), they succeeded in reduc- 
ing Ahaz to great distress. Rezin took Elath, on the 
Red Sea, and smote Ahaz, and carried aw^ay captive a 
multitude to Damascus. (2 Chron. xxviii : 5.) 

Pekah also slew^ in a single battle one hundred and 
twenty thousand. At the same time the Philistines on 
the wTst and the Edomites on the east invaded Judah. 

In this extremity Ahaz entreated Tiglath-Pileser to 
make a diversion in his favour by invading the kingdoms 
of Syria and Israel. To accomplish this, x\haz became 
a voluntary vassal of the Assyrian, and sent him a sub- 
sidy of all the sacred and royal treasures. 

The result of this expedient, as has been already re- 
lated, w^as the overthrow of the Syrian empire, the head 
of which was Damascus. (2 Kings xvi ; 2 Chron. 
xxviii.) Ahaz found a grave in Jerusalem, 725 B. C, 
but was denied a sepulchre w^ith the kings of Judah. 

Israel was now ripening fast for that destruction 
which the prophets had foretold. Soon after his losses 
by the invasion of the Assyrians, Pekah, king of Israel, 
was assassinated by Hoshea. Then, before Hoshea 
established himself on the throne, followed a cruel 
anarchy of ten years, until 730 B. C. 

Of this disordered state Isaiah gives a vivid picture : 
" None spares another ; they eat on the right and hun- 
ger ; they devour on the left and are not satisfied ; they 



Confederacy against Judah ? Result of it ? Conquests of Rezin ? 
Of Pekah ? Revolt of the Edomites ? Of the Philistines ? Appli- 
cation to Tiglath-Pileser ? Result of it ? Subsidies to him? Death 
of Pekah ? Anarchy, continuance of it ? Description by Isaiah ? 



308 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

eat each one the flesh of his own arm : Manasseh, 
Ephraim ; and Ephraim, Manasseh ; and both against 
Judah. (Isa. ix: 19,20.) 

Hoshea soon became tributary to Shalmaneser, king 
of Assyria, but two or three years afterwards attempted 
to throw off the yoke. Seeking the aid of So, king of 
Egypt, he refused his tribute to Shalmaneser, and im- 
prisoned the Assyrian officer who w^as appointed to col- 
lect it. (2 Kings xvii.) 

This indiscretion brought back against Israel the 
hosts of Assyria, who, after a siege of three years, took 
Samaria, and completed the destruction of the kingdom 
of Israel, 721 B. C, and two hundred and fifty-seven 
years after the schism in the reign of Jeroboam. 

Hoshea was carried in chains to Nineveh, and his 
soldiers, armourers, and the principal inhabitants w^ere 
carried away captive beyond the Tigris, to the cities 
of the Medes. 

COLONIES IN THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. 

On the other hand, colonists were sent out from 
Assyria, and settled in the depopulated land of Israel. 
These mingled with the people of the land, the dregs 
of Israel who had been left, and formed a mixed race, 
who were called Samaritans, inhabitants of Samaria. 
At first they were all idolaters ; but, suffering from the 
ravages of wild beasts (2 Kings xvii : 26), in punish- 
ment, as they imagined, of their neglect of the God of 

Hoshea tributary to Assyria? Refusal of tribute? Alliance 
sought ? Invasion of the Assyrians ? Siege of Samaria ? Date of 
the overthrow of the kingdom of Israel ? After Jeroboam, how 
long ? Captivity of Hoshea ? 

Colonies from Assyria ? Samaritans, origin of them ? Rebuke 
of their idolatries ? 



CAPTIVE ISRAELITES. 309 

the country, they recalled an Israelitish priest to instruct 
them in the worship of this God. 

This priest settled at Bethel, where one of the golden 
calves had stood. The result was that they combined 
the worship of God with their own idolatries. This was 
the origin of the sect of the Samaritans, who, however, 
gradually purified their worship from idolatry, and re- 
turned in great measure to the religion of the Jews ; 
but retained only the sacred books which had been 
recognised by the whole nation previous to the revolt 
of the ten tribes. 

CAPTIVE ISRAELITES. 

We now turn to the settlement of the Israelites in 
the land of their captivity. It is generally admitted 
that the remotest province of the Assyrian empire, be- 
yond the mountains of Kurdistan, and not far from the 
south-west coast of the Caspian Sea, was selected as 
the scene of Israel's captivity. This province lies at 
some distance south of Kir, to which the Syrians had 
been previously exiled. 

Gozan is the modern Kizzil-ouzan, the Amardus of 
Ptolemy, w^hich rises in the north-eastern mountain of 
the Kurds, and runs, by a very circuitous route, into the 
Caspian Sea. '^Its course is very rapid, though in a 
serpentine direction ; and being augmented by several 
streams, which rise near the town of Banna, in the 
north-eastern branch of the Kurdistan mountains, it 
pours majestically along, through a vast stretch of hilly 
country northward, until it enters Ghilan, where, thun- 

Jewish priest called ? Samaritan religion ? Sacred books ? 
Israelites, place of captivity ? Gozan ? Origin and course of the 
river ? 



810 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

dering forward amidst the most majestic scenery, it 
discharges itself at length into the Caspian Sea." 
Somewhere upon this river, then, we must look for the 
position of Halah and Habor. (2 Kings xvii : 6.) 

The Assyrian colonies that were sent out to the terri- 
tory of Israel were gathered from Babylon, from Cuthar, 
Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim. (2 Kings xvii : 24.) 

The two first mentioned were provinces of Babylonia, 
which was at this time subject to the power of Assyria. 
Berodach-baladan, who sent to congratulate Hezekiah 
on his recovery from sickness, was a tributary prince of 
this country, which soon gains the ascendency over 
Assyria. (2 Kings xx : 12 seq.) 

Ava is supposed to have been a province of Mesopo- 
tamia. Sepharvaim was in the southern extremity of 
this province, near the junction of the Euphrates and 
the Tigris. 

PROPHETS BEFORE THE EXILE. 

Several of the prophets lived in the reigns of some 
of the later kings of Israel, whose writings should be 
read in connexion with the history of the reigns to which 
they belong. Joel flourished under the reign of Jero- 
boam II., 790 B. C. Amos was contemporary with him, 
under the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam, 788 B, C. f 
Hosea exercised the prophetic office for more than half a 
century, under the successive reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, 
Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Micah was contemporary with 
Isaiah ; Nahum lies between 721 and 713 B. C, Zepha- 
niah before 628, and Habakkuk 606 B. C. 

Halah and Habor, where ? W^hat was Babylon at this time ? 
What of Berodach-baladan ? Of Ava ? Of Sepharvaim ? 

Period of the prophet Joel? Of Amos ? Of Hosea ? Micah? 
Isaiah? Nahum? Zephaniah? Habakkuk? 



PROPHETS BEFORE THE EXILE. 811 

There is but little in these prophets that requires dis- 
tinct geographical notice. The places mentioned by 
them have, for the most part, been already noticed in 
previous history. Aven, in Amos i : 5, is the valley of 
Coele-Syria, between the ranges of Lebanon. Eden is 
a pleasant valley near Damascus. Teman means the 
south, here put for Edom. Bozra is the modern Buse- 
rah, on the caravan route, a few miles north of Petra. 
It is situated on a hill surmounted by a castle, and sur- 
rounded by ruins. 

Rabbah was taken by Joab, under David. Before 
its walls the unsuspecting Uriah fell in the fore front of 
the hottest of the battle. 

Kirioth (Amos ii : 2) is either a general name for the 
cities of Moab, or else is the same as Kir-Moab. It will 
receive more particular notice in connexion with other 
towns of Moab, mentioned by the prophet Isaiah. 
(Chap. XV.) 

Calneh is the same as Calno of Isaiah x : 9, and 
Canneh, of Ezekiel xxvii : 23, the fourth city of Nimrod, 
subsequently known in history as Ctesiphon. It lay upon 
the east of the Tigris, opposite Seleucia. Very exten- 
sive walls and canals are still remaining, indicating the 
remains of a great and opulent city. These remains of 
this city have been described by an English traveller, 
from whose works the description of a single building 
is given : — 

" From the bed of the canal, and a quarter of a mile 
to the north-west, over a space marked by memorials 
of the past, interspersed with patches of the camel thorn, 

Where was Aven ? Where Eden ? Meaning of Teman ? Where 
Bozra ? Situation and ruins ? Events at Rabbah ? Meaning of 
Kirioth ? What were the names of Calneh ? Ruins ? 



312 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

stands the Tank Kesra, a magnificent monument of 
antiquity, surprising the spectator with the perfect state 
of its preservation, after having braved the warring ele- 
ments for so many ages ; without an emblem to throw 
any light upon its history ; without proof, or character 
to be traced on any brick or wall. This stupendous, 
stately fragment of ages long since forgot, is built of 
fine furnace-burnt bricks, each measuring twelve inches 
square by two and three-quarters thick, and coated with 
cement. 

'^ The full extent of the front, or eastern face, is three 
hundred feet. It is divided by a high semicircular arch, 
supported by w^alls sixteen feet thick, the arch itself 
making a span of eighty-six feet, and rising to the 
height of one hundred and three feet. The front of the 
building is ornamented and surmounted by four row^s 
of small arched recesses, resembling in form the large 
one. The style and execution of these are most deli- 
cate, evincing a fertile invention and great experience 
in the architectural art. 

'' From the vestibule, a hall extends to the depth of 
one hundred and fifty-six feet east and west, where a 
wall forms the back building, a great portion of which, 
together with part of the roof, is broken down. 

''In the centre of the wall, or western face of the 
structure, a doorway, measuring twenty-four feet high 
by twelve wide, leads to a contiguous heap of mounds, 
extending to the bank of the river, about a quarter of a 
mile distant. The general shape of these hillocks is 
elliptical, and their circumference two miles. 

<' To the right are fragments of walls, and broken 

Bricks of which the town is built ? Extent and style of the front ? 
Hall adjacent ? Ruins behind ? 



PHOPHETS BEFORE THE EXILE. 313 

masses of brickwork ; to the left, and therefore to the 
south of the arch, are the remains of vast structures 
which, though encumbered with heaps of earth, are yet 
sufficiently visible to fill the mind of the spectator with 
astonishment, at the thought that the destroying hand 
of Time could have failed in entirely concealing from 
the inquiring eye, these wrecks of remote antiquity."* 

'<• Is not Caino as Carchemish ?" (Isa. x: 9) — (both 
vanquished ?) This is Circessum of profane history, a 
strongly fortified town on the Euphrates, about three 
hundred miles above Babvlon. It was the remotest 
outpost of the Roman empire towards the Euphrates, in 
the direction of Persia. Jeremiah (xlvi : 2) uttered a 
prophecy against the army of Necho, king of Egypt, 
who five years before, while besieging this place, when 
on the way to Carchemish, had mortally w^ounded 
Josiah, king of Judah, near Megiddo. (2 Chron. xxxv.) 

Beth-aven, house of vanity, in Hosea iv: 15, is the 
name of Bethel, given it as a nickname after it became 
the seat of idolatry by the worship of the golden calves, 
under Jeroboam. 

Gibeah, Ramah, and Bethel (Beth-aven), are situated 
on different eminences, north of Jerusalem, and nearly 
in a line, like suitable watch-towers from which to 
sound the alarm to Ephraim and Benjamin of their ap- 
proaching captivity. (Hosea v: 8.) 

Aven, in Hosea x : 8, is not a name of a town, but 
the high places of vanity j of idolatry ^ the sin of Israel 
to be destroyed. 

Carchemish ? Prophecy against Necho ? Beth-aven ? Towns as 
watch-towers ? 

♦Mignan's Travels in Chaldea, p. 69, quoted by Rosenmiiller. 



814 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Beth-arbel, Hosea x: 14, called also Arbela, is a 
remarkable retreat near the western shore of the Sea of 
Galilee, which, in the days of Herod the Great, was the 
haunt of robbers, so numerous that they became the 
terror of the surrounding country. 

This fortress consists of caves in a deep cleft in the 
rocks. The only access to them is by a very difficult 
ascent along the precipitous sides of the cleft. They 
are at considerable height from the base, and are pro- 
tected from above by perpendicular cliffs. These caves 
are large enough to receive several hundred men, who, 
securely lodged in these fastnesses, could easily defend 
themselves against attack. 

The only method which Herod could devise to dis- 
lodge his enemy was, to let down soldiers in boxes, 
suspended by chains from above, who, from this novel 
position, assailed with fire and sword such as defended 
the entrance, or dragged them out with long hooks and 
dashed them down the precipice. In this way the place 
was at length subdued. It is mentioned in no other 
place in the Scriptures ; but repeatedly noticed by 
Josephus, who, during his command in Galilee, de- 
fended himself here against the Romans. 

Isaiah ii : 13, alludes to the fertility of Bashan in 
oaks. This country, lying east of the Sea of Galilee, 
and extending some distance north and south of it, is 
still celebrated, as it w^as of old, for its fertility and 
exuberant vegetation. 

Calno and Carchemish (Isa. x: 9), have been already 
noticed. Hamath and Arpad occur in the history of 
Hezekiah. (2 Kings xviii : 34; xix: 13.) 

Beth-arbel, where and what ? Access to it ? How gained by 
Herod ? Other notices of it ? Bashan, where ? Fertility ? 



APPROACH OF THE ASSYRIAN. 315 

APPROACH OF THE ASSYRIAN. 

In the same chapter ^Isaiah x : 28-32), the prophet 
sketches, with unrivalled sublimity and beauty, the pro- 
gress of the invading army to lay siege to Jerusalem. 
The approach of the invader is from the north-east; 
and his advance may be easily traced upon the map as 
described by the prophet. His language is precisely 
that of an eye-witness, describing at the moment what 
he actually sees. The enemy is first seen in the fron- 
tiers of Judah at Aiath, the same as Ai, after the fall of 
Jericho the first place conquered by the Israelites in 
taking possession of the land. 

They move on through Migron, now unknown. At 
Michmash, still nearer on the slope of the steep valley 
beyond Geba, he has laid up his carriages, stores and 
baggage, as some suppose because of the deep and 
difficult pass which led between these towns. They 
have crossed the pass. In Geba they have taken up their 
lodging for the night. The neighbouring towns are 
filled with consternation. Ramah, on the west, though 
not on the direct line of march, is afraid and trembles 
with apprehension at the enemy's approach ; and Gibeah 
of Saul, more distant still, yet seized with greater con- 
sternation, is fled. Other towns in the neighbourhood 
now raise their cry of alarm. The daughter of Gallim, 
near by, is exhorted to raise high her shrieks of distress ; 
and poor Anathoth, to listen to the response as it re- 
turns from Laish or Dan, at the remotest extremity of 
the country. Madmena flies, and the inhabitants of 

Approach of the Assyrian army from what direction ? At Aiath ? 
Migron? Michmash? Geba? Stores laid up, why ? Ramah and 
Gibeah ? Gallim ? Poor Anathoth ? Madmena and Gebim ? 



Si 6 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Gebim betake themselves to flight. These two places 
last mentioned are no longer known, and nowhere else 
are they mentioned. 

The next verse conducts the enemy to the last stage 
of his march. To day, i. e. already^ he has taken his 
position at Nob, just above the Mount of Olives, where 
he stands and shakes his hand in defiance against the 
mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. 

PICTORIAL SCENE IN MOAB. 

A similar pictorial scene of distress is given in Isaiah 
XV., where, in a strong personification, many of the 
chief towns of Moab are represented as grieving over 
the conquest and desolation of the country. In a night 
Ar of Moab is laid waste, is destroyed in a night. 

Kir of Moab was on the southern frontier of this 
country, seventeen miles east of the promontory or 
isthmus of the Dead Sea, where the cities of Sodom and. 
Gomorrah are supposed to have been situated. It is 
known by the name of Kerak, and is at present the 
only inhabited town in the whole country of Moab. 

It is near the head of a valley which runs dow^n to the 
plain of Sodom, and opens a prospect of the Dead Sea, 
and of the region beyond, quite to Jerusalem, 

There is here a strong castle, now in ruins, on a high 
hill surrounded by a deep valley with perpendicular 
sides, and almost impregnable by the ancient mode of 
warfare. 

The city is the same as Kir-havesheth, which was 
taken and destroyed by Jehoshaphat and Jehoram. In 

Nob ? For what remarkable in the history of Saul ? 
Pictorial scene in Moab, what ? Kir of Moab, where ? Modern 
name ? Castle ? The city taken by what kings ? 



PICTORIAL SCENE IN MOAB. 317 

the times of the crusades it sustained a siege of four 
years against the forces of Saladin, and was finally 
reduced only by hunger. 

A poor, oppressed company of native Christians at 
this place, has lately been brought into notice by Lieu- 
tenant Lynch. 

' Ar of Moab was eight miles north of Kerak. The 
ruins of this place, consisting of a temple and various 
columns, are scattered over a hill half a mile in circum- 
ference, which commands a good prospect of the sur- 
rounding desolation. 

Verse 2. They go up to the house of their gods, to the 
high places, and to Dibon,weeping. Bajith is not the 
name of a place, but the Hebrew name of a house or 
temple. Dibon is some twelve miles north of Ar, three 
or four miles north of the Arnon, and was the first sta- 
tion of the Israelites after crossing that river. (Num. 
xxi ; xiii: 30.) 

'« On Nebo and Medeba, Moab howls ; on all their 
heads baldness — every beard cut off." Medeba is on 
a hill at the head of a low valley, fifteen miles north of 
Dibon. It is in utter ruin ; but considerable remains of 
an old temple are still standing, a waste and desolate 
heap, to indicate the position of the place. 

Verse 4. ^^ Heshbon cries and Elealeh — even to Jahaz 
is their voice heard." Heshbon, already described, is 
five miles north of Medeba ; and Elealeh half that dis- 
tance further north. 

Jahaz is several times mentioned in the Scriptures, 
but its location cannot well be defined. 

By Saladin? Native Christians? Ar of Moab? Ruins? 
Bajith, what? Dibon, where? Medeba? Ruins? Where was 
Heshbon ? Elealeh ? Jahaz ? , 



318 HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Verse 5. At the sight of the distress of the fugitives 
of Moab fleeing to Zoar, the prophet utters his pathetic 
exclamation, <« My heart cries out for Moab — her fugi- 
tives fleeing to Zoar." This is still recognised on the 
plain by the isthmus of the peninsula of Sodom and 
Gomorrah. 

Luhith and Horonaim are mentioned only here and 
in Jeremiah xlviii : 3, 5. Luhith, according to Euse- 
bius, was between Ar and Zoar ; and, from a comparison 
of these passages, it is supposed that these two towns 
may have been on the opposite sides of the same hill. 
So that the fugitives in passing over it are seen going up 
the ascent of Luhith and down the descent of Horonaim, 
and weeping as they go. 

Verse 6. About eight or ten miles above the mouth 
of the Jordan is a small valley and brook which corres- 
ponds to the Waters of Nimrim. The place still bears its 
ancient name. These waters are dried up ; withered 
the grass ; gone the herbage ; verdure none. 

Verse 7. What little remains to the inhabitants of 
their effects, they are carrying away over the brook of 
wdllows — generally understood to be the long deep val- 
ley which opens upon the south-east corner of the Dead 
Sea, the extreme limit of Moab, from which they are 
running into Edom. 

Verse 8. All around, the land is filled with lamenta- 
tion. This wailing is heard at Eglaim and at Beer-elim. 
The first of these places is said by Jerome to have been 
near the mouth of the Jordan. Beer-elim, the well of 
the mighty ones, is the same that the nobles and princes 
dug with their staves. (Num. xxi: 18.) If these locali- 

Zoar, where ? Luhith and Horonaim ? Supposed situation ? 
Waters of Nimrim ? Brook of willows ? Eglaim ? Beer-elim ? 



PICTORIAL SCENE IN MOAB, 319 

ties are correctly given, they are equivalent to the 
general expression, the whole length of the land is filled 
with their wailings. 

Verse 9. The Waters of Dimon are supposed to be 
the same as those by which the Moabites were deceived 
in their rebellion against Jeroboam. (2 Kings iii : 20- 
22.) These waters are not now, as then, red in appearance^ 
but in reality — red with blood ; the blood of their slain. 

Sela, chapter xvi: 1, is the same as Petra, already 
described. 

Arnon w^as the principal stream of Moab, and the 
northern boundary of the country. It is about eighty 
miles in length, and runs across the country in a very 
deep and rocky channel westward to the Dead Sea. Its 
deep and precipitous banks render the fords or passes 
of the river extremely difficult. 

Sibmah, verse 8, famous for its vines, was not more 
than half a mile from Heshbon. Passing down a deep 
defile, south-w^est from Ramoth-Gilead, one soon ar- 
rives at extensive ruins and foundations which indicate 
the site of a large ancient city. Near by this is a fine 
fountain of water. This is supposed to be the Sea of 
Jazer of Jeremiah xlviii : 32 ; and these ruins, the re- 
mains of Jazer, to which the luxuriant vines of Sib- 
mah and of Moab extended quite beyond that country, 
and some distance above the northern point of the Dead 
Sea. 

Ethiopia (^Isa. xviii : 1) is Upper Egypt, the region 
of ancient Thebes and modern Abyssinia. 

Noph, called also Moph (Hosea ix : 6), w^hose princes 
have become infatuated (Isa. xix : 13), was the Mem- 
Waters of Dimon ? Sela ? Sibmah ? Ruins ? Sea of Jazer ? 
Ruins of Jazer ? Ethiopia ? Noph, other names ? 



320 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

phis of ancient geographers and historians. It was a 
large and flourishing city in the time of the patriarchs. 

It was situated on the west side of the Nile, a short 
distance above Cairo, and near the pyramids. These 
pyramids, and the immense depositories of the dead in 
these regions, are only a vast necropolis of this renowned 
city. Even its immense and magnificent ruins, which 
Arabian writers of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries 
describe, have almost entirely disappeared. Once a 
city of fifteen or twenty miles in circumference, it has 
now nothing to mark it out but a few mounds, a co- 
lossal statue of Rameses the Great, a small figure of red 
granite, greatly mutilated, and a few foundations. 

Zoan was situated on an eastern branch of the Nile, 
on the Delta, a few" miles from the sea, and was one of 
the oldest cities in Egypt, having been built seven years 
after Hebron. (Num. xiii: 22.) ''The field of Zoan," 
the fine alluvial plain around the city, described as 
the scene of God's marvellous works in the time 
of Moses (Psalm Ixxviii : 12, 33), is now a barren 
waste ; but the city is supposed by many to have been 
the residence of Pharaoh. The ground is overspread 
w^ith extensive ruins, remains of temples, fragments of 
walls, columns, and fallen obelisks, w^hich still attest 
the grandeur of this ancient city of the Pharaohs. " A 
fire has been set in Zoan" (Ezek. xxx: 14), and few" 
now visit this scene of hopeless desolation. 

In Isaiah xxi : 2, Elam and Media are called to go 
up and besiege Babylon. Elam is an extensive pro- 
vince east of the Euphrates, having Media on the 

Situation ? Remains of it ? Former extent ? Diminutive rem- 
nants of it ? Zoan, where ? Field of Zoan ? Historical associa- 
tions ? Desolate condition ? Where was Elam ? 



PICTORIAL SCENE IN MOAB. 321 

north and the Persian Gulf on the south. It designates, 
in this place, the Persian empire. The prophet there 
summons the Medes and Persians to the conquest of 
Babylon, which commission they fulfilled some two 
hundred years afterwards. 

Dumah (verse 11) is Edom. The caravans of Deda- 
nim are from some region south of Edom, who in pass- 
ing through Edom are constrained, in consequence of 
the disturbed state of the country, to lodge in the 
thickets of Arabia, for the sake of concealment and 
security. 

Tema (verse 14) another Arabian tribe, bring water 
and supply bread to the fugitives from the wasted 
country. 

Kedar, the second son of Ishmael (Gen. xxv: 13), 
in verses 16, 17, represents either a tribe in Arabia, or 
the whole country collectively. 

Kir (Isa. xxii : 6) is a province of Media west of the 
Caspian Sea, and represents the Medes, as Elam does 
the Persians, both of whom are preparing themselves for 
battle against Jerusalem. . 

Chittim (Isa. xxiii : 1) is the island of Cyprus, origi- 
nally settled by colonies from Phoenicia, and lying within 
sight of the coast. The ships of Tarshish, on touching at 
this island, receive intelligence of the fall of Tyre. 

Sihor (verse 3) is the river Nile, by whose commerce 
Tyre was enriched. 

The land of Sinim (Isa. xlix: 12), is now supposed 
to be China, Even from this distant country shall con- 
verts be gathered to the Lord. 

What does Elam designate ? Media ? Conquest of Babylon, 
when? Dumah? Caravans of Dedanim ? Tema? Kedar? Kir? 
Represents what ? Cyprus ? Sihor ? Land of Sinira ? 
21 



322 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

CHAPTER X. 
JUDAH UNTIL THE CAPTIVITY. 

721—606 B.C. 

We now return to the history of Hezekiah, who was 
king over Judah when the kingdom of Israel was de- 
stroyed. Eight years after this event, 713 B. C, Judah 
was invaded by Sennacherib, who, in order to cut off 
Hezekiah from any relief from the kings of Egypt, laid 
siege to Lachish and Libnah, in the south of Judah. 
Here, after the taunting insult of Rab-shakeh, and the 
prayer of Hezekiah, the Assyrian army was miracu- 
lously overthrown by the judgment of God, in the death 
of a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in one 
night. (2 Kings xviii, xix ; 2 Chron. xxix-xxxii ; Isa. 
xxvi, xxvii.) 

MANASSEH AND AMON. 

After the death of Hezekiah, the long and wicked 
reign of Manasseh, and the short reign of Amon, 
succeeded, from 697 to 640 B. C. These kings left 
little to be noted respecting themselves but their sins. 
Manasseh, however, repented of his wickedness; and, 
after returning from his captivity in Babylon, sought to 
make amends for his idolatries. He fortified the city 
by a wall on the west side, and built up a wall of 
defence around Ophel, a high ridge of land which 
extended from the south side of Mount Moriah along 
the valley of Jehoshaphat, and east of Mount Zion to the 

Hezekiah, when king ? Invasion of Sennacherib ? Story of Rab- 
shakeh ? Prayer of Hezekiah ? Answer to it ? 

Character of Manasseh and Amon? Their reigns? Captivity 
of Manasseh ? Repentance ? Walls built by him ? Ophel ? 



JEH0IAKI3I AND THE CAPTIVITY. 323 

pool of Siloam. (2 Kings xxi ; 2 Chron. xxxiii ; Isa. 
xxix: 3-8.) 

JOSIAH, 640—610 B. C. 

It is refreshing to turn to the pious king, Josiah, who 
in early childhood inherited the throne of his father ; 
and, during a reign of thirty-one years, religiously 
sought to exterminate idolatry and restore the worship 
and service of the God of his fathers. 

In the history of his reign nothing occurs worthy of 
historical notice but the circumstances of his death. 

The king of Egypt landed a powerful army at Acre, 
with the intention of marching through the country 
against the king of Babylon. Josiah, though assured 
of the friendly intentions of the Egyptian monarch, felt 
himself required by his allegiance to the king of Baby- 
lon to resist the progress of the army of Egypt, and was 
mortally wounded in battle at Megiddo. (2 Kings xxii, 
xxiii; 2 Chron. xxiv, xxv.) 

JEHOIAKIM AND THE CAPTIVITY. 

From this period the kingdom of Judah hastened 
rapidly to ruin. Jehoiakim, the unworthy son and suc- 
cessor of Josiah, was one of the worst kings that reigned 
in Jerusalem. He was indebted for his crown to the 
Egyptian king, who dethroned the brother of Jehoiakim 
at Riblah, and laid the country under contribution. 

In the fourth year of his reign, Jehoiakim became 
tributary to the king of Babylon, when many were car- 
ried away captive to Babylon, among whom were Daniel 
and his companions, 606 B. C. 

Reign of Josiah ? Character ? Death, how caused and where ? 
Character of Jehoiakim ? Captives to Babylon ? Date of this 
captivity ? 



324 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Jehoiakim, however, revolted ; and while closely be- 
sieged died. The Chaldeans, on gaining possession of 
the city, dragged the dead body of the perjured king and 
remorseless tyrant around the city before the walls and 
left it unburied, thus fulfilling the prediction of Jeremiah 
that he should be buried with the burial of an ass, 
drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem. 
(Jer. xxii : 19; xxxvi : 30; 2 Kings xxiv: 1-6; 2 
Chron. xxvi : 5, 6.) 

The Chaldeans now left the city in ruins, and carried 
away the money of the royal treasury, and the golden 
utensils of the temple which Solomon had provided. 
The whole court, seven thousand soldiers, a thousand 
artificers, and two thousand nobles and men of wealth, 
who w^ith their wives, children, and servants, probably 
amounted to forty thousand souls, were led into cap- 
tivity to the river Chebar, in Mesopotamia. Among 
these captives was the prophet Ezekiel. (2 Kings xxiv : 
8-18 ; 2 Chron. xxvi : 9, 10 ; Jer. lii : 28. Comp. Isa. 
xxxix: 3-8.) 

LAND OF THE CAPTIVITY. 

Chebar is a large river of Mesopotamia, which dis- 
charges its waters into the Euphrates, two hundred 
miles or more above Babylon, at Carchemish, where 
Nebuchadnezzar conquered Necho the king of Egypt. 
The country where the Jewish exiles were colonized, 
was at this time a frontier province of Babylon. 

Death of Jehoiakim? Condition of the city? Character and 
number of them ? Captive prophet ? 

Chebar, where and what ? Land of the captivity ? 



DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 325 

DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 

The seventy years of the captivity are reckoned as 
beginning with the first conquest of Nebuchadnezzar, 
606 B. C, when Daniel and his companions were car- 
ried to Babylon. The second conquest completed the 
overthrow of Jerusalem. Still a considerable number 
of the lower class of people remained in the land, over 
w^hom Zedekiah, an unw^orthy son of Josiah, reigned as 
king under Nebuchadnezzar. 

Notwithstanding all the remonstrances of Jeremiah, 
these remnants of the captivity continued to entertain 
confident expectations of delivering themselves from the 
power of the Babylonians. This deliverance Zedekiah, 
in the ninth year of his reign, rashly attempted to ac- 
complish. This revolt brought against the city the army 
of the Babylonians, who laid it under a close siege, 
which, by famine, soon compelled the inhabitants to 
surrender. The Babylonians now broke down the for- 
tifications, set fire to the city, and palace of the kings, 
and '' burned with fire the temple, that holy and beau- 
tiful house of the Jews, and laid waste all their pleasant 
things." (2 Kings xxv : 8-21 ; 2 Chron. xxvi : 17-21 ; 
Jer. lii : 12 seq.) 

This destruction of Jerusalem, according to the com- 
putation which we have followed, falls on the three 
hundred and ninety-first year of the revolt of the ten 
tribes, and the eighteenth of the captivity. In round 
numbers it is sufficient for the general reader to remem- 

The seventy years' captivity ? Remnant at Jerusalem ? King 
over them ? His character ? Remonstrances of Jeremiah ? Revolt ? 
Invasion ? Siege of Jerusalem ? Destruction of the city ? Palace 
and temple ? Data of this period from the revolt ? 



826 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

ber the following data : The captivity began 606 B. C, 
almost four hundred years after the revolt, and from a 
hundred to a hundred and fifty years after the captivity 
of the ten tribes. The temple w^as destroyed in the 
eighteenth year of the captivity, and four hundred and 
nineteen years from its dedication. 

Zedekiah was pursued and taken on the plains of 
Jericho, and carried to Riblah, in the land of Hamath, 
where Jehoahaz had been put in bands some years be- 
fore by Pharaoh Necho. (2 Kings xxiii: 33.) Here 
Zedekiah's sons were put to death in his presence, then 
his own eyes were put out, and he was led thence to 
Babylon in chains. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of 
Ezekiel, that he should go into that splendid city and 
not see it. (Ezek. xvii : 13-15; xii: 13; Jer. xxvii: 
3-10; 2 Kings xxiv: 18-20; xxv: 1-7; 2 Chron. 
xxvi: 17-21.) 

Riblah, still known by the same name, lies between 
the two mountains near the main source of the Orontes, 
already described. The Babylonians and other eastern 
armies, in their incursions into Palestine, w^ere accus- 
tomed to advance and return through this pass between 
the mountains. (Num. xxxiv : 11 ; 2 Kings xxiii : 33 ; 
XXV : 26 ; Jer. xxxix : 5 ; lii : 10.) Near this place is 
a remarkable monument, which Mr. Thompson notices 
as follows : — 

«« It is built of large hewn stones, is twenty-five feet 
square at the base, rises seventy or eighty feet, and is 
terminated by a pyramid. The four sides are covered 
with figures of various animals, intermingled with bows. 

From the captivity of Israel ? Before Christ ? From the build- 
ing of the temple ? Captivity of Zedekiah ? Prophecy fulfilled ? 
Riblah? Remarkable monument ? Dimensions? Hieroglyphics? 



JUDAH DURING THE CAPTIVITY. 827 

arrows, spears, and other implements of the chase, in 
alto relievo^ beautifully executed, and as large as life. 
<'' This monument is in full view of Riblah, which lies 
on the river below. Can it have been the work of 
Nebuchadnezzar, when he was encamped here, and de- 
signed to commemorate his conquests ? Or is it a great 
hunting trophy, erected by some one of the chascrloving 
Seleucidae? I can meet with no description of this 
wonderful monument in any book of travels. The style 
of architecture will not contradict the first supposition." 

JUDAH DURING THE CAPTIVITY. 

The people were carried away into captivity, and the 
country drained of its inhabitants by successive remo- 
vals, the first under Jehoiakim, 606 B. C. The second, 
seven years later, 599 B.C., at the end of Jehoiakim's 
reign ; the third at the sacking of Jerusalem and burn- 
ing of the temple, in the eleventh year of the reign of 
Zedekiah, 588 B. C. Soon after this, upon the murder 
of Gedaliah (2 Kings xxv: 25, 26), many fled into 
Egypt, to escape the vengeance of the Chaldees. Four 
years after this the few that reraained were taken aw^ay 
by Nebuchadnezzar, and the land was entirely bereaved 
of its inhabitants. 

In the mean time other colonists were not introduced, 
as they had been in Samaria when Israel went into 
captivity. (2 Kings xxv : 22-26 ; Jer. xl— xliii ; liii : 
30.) The Idumeans settled in some parts of the coun- 
try, and wandering tribes roamed over it ; but the land, 
for the most part, remained uninhabited, and ready for 

Object of this monument ? 

Successive removals from Judah ? The first ? The second ? 
The third ? Condition of the country during the captivity ? 



828 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

the reception of the Hebrews, who were once more to 
occupy the country from which they were now exiled. 
All this had been predicted ages before by Moses, and 
succeeding prophets had given more circumstantial 
predictions of the same events. (Deut. xxviii : 36, 49 
seq.) 



CHAPTER XL 
THE LATER PROPHETS AND THE RESTORATION. 

606—410 B. C. 

The geography of the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and 
Daniel, next claims our attention. These prophets all 
lived in the time of the Babylonish captivity. Jeremiah 
remained in Judea with the remnant of his people, over 
whom Gedaliah was made governor; and, after the 
assassination of this prince, accompanied the fugitives 
to Egypt. Daniel was carried to Babylon with the first 
company of captives, and Ezekiel with the second. 

Jeremiah was a native of Anathoth, four miles north 
of Jerusalem. He began his prophecies in the thirteenth 
year of Josiah, 628 B. C, and continued his prophetic 
office more than forty years. He witnessed the destruc- 
tion of the holy city and the burning of the temple ; 
after which he retired w^ith the last remnant of his peo- 
ple into Egypt, from which he dates several of his pro- 
phecies. The Jewish tradition respecting him is, that 

Prophets in the time of the captivity ? Jeremiah, when ? Daniel ? 
Ezekiel ? Native place of Jeremiah ? 



PROPHETS DURING THE CAPTIVITY. 329 

he spent the remainder of his life in Egypt, and suffered 
a violent death at Taphanes ; but there is no certain 
information respecting either the time, place, or manner 
of his death. 

In chapter ii : 19, when reproving Judah for seeking, 
"like a silly dove," the protection of Egypt, from 
which they had suffered so much, he refers to the river 
Nile under the name of the Waters of Sihor. Noph and 
Tahpanhes, which had severely treated them (verse 16), 
are cities to which they vainly flee for refuge. These 
are noticed below. See chapters xliii : 7, xliv: 1. 

Tophet (Jer. vii : 31) was a place in the valley of the 
sons of Hinnom, below Jerusalem, and a little south- 
east of the city, in which the Canaanites, and afterwards 
the Israelites, offered their children to Moloch. Josiah 
defiled this place, to prevent the use of it for such 
abominations. 

A perpetual fire is supposed to have been kept there 
to consume the refuse materials gathered from the city, 
the bodies of such animals as died, and other decaying 
substances ; hence, under the name of Gehenna, it be- 
came a fit emblem of hell. Tophet and Gehenna are 
frequently mentioned in the Scriptures with various 
references to the abominatious perpetrated there. 

Jeremiah xxv. The prophet is directed to take the 
wine-cup of Divine wrath and cause all the people to 
drink it. Judah, Egypt, and the mingled people^ the 
various tribes in and about Egypt. 

With Tyre and Zidon, mention is also made of the 
Isles beyond the Sea, by which commentators under- 

His death? Waters of Sihor ? Noph? Tahpanhes? Tophet? 
Abominable rites there ? Perpetual fire ? Gehenna ? Isles beyond 
the Sea ? 



330 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

stand the islands of the Mediterranean, particularly 
Cyprus. 

Dedan, Tema, and Buz, are regarded by Ritter 
(Erdkunde, xiii. 385-6) as provinces in the desert of 
Arabia, east of Mount Seir or Edom, and near the land 
ofUz. 

Zimri (verse 25) is supposed by Ritter to be a pro- 
vince of Arabia Felix, in or near the road over Yemen, 
south-east of Mecca. (Erdkunde, xii. 280.) 

Sheshach (verse 26) is the same as Babylon. (Jer. li : 

41.) , 

In his prophecy against Egypt (chap, xliii.), Jeremiah 

specifies two cities as particularly subjects of Divine 

displeasure, Tahpanhes and Beth-shemesh. The first 

of these was a large city on the eastern or Pelusiac 

arm of the Nile, sixteen miles from Pelusiura. Here a 

colony of the Jews settled, w^ho fled into Egypt after the 

murder of Gedaliah. It is several times mentioned by 

the prophets (Jer. ii: 16; xlvi: 14; xliv: 1; Ezek. 

XXX : 18), and is known in profane history under the 

name of Daphne. 

Beth-shemesh, known as On, the city of the priest 
whose daughter Joseph married (Gen. xli : 45), and by 
the Septuagint identical with Aven of Ezekiel (Ezek. 
XXX : 17), is the ancient Heliopolis, '^ City of the Sun,'' 
of Herodotus. It is seven or eight miles north-north-east 
from Cairo. 

It was famous for the Temple of the Sun, and many 
other magnificent structures, all of which have crumbled 
down to indiscriminate heaps of ruins, and are covered 
with the sands of the desert, which have encroached 

Dedan, Tema, Buz? Zimri? Sheshach? Tahpanhes? Colony 
of Jews? Name in profane history? Beth-shemesh in Egypt? 
Names and situation ? Famous for what ? 



PROPHETS DURING THE CAPTIVITY. 831 

upon the city and buried it in the grave. One lone 
obelisk towers aloft in solitary grandeur, as a sepulchral 
monument of the city which for thousands of years has 
lain entombed at its base. 

This venerable monument is covered with hierogly- 
phics, which record the name of Osirtasen the First, 
who is regarded by the learned as that Pharaoh to 
whom Joseph interpreted his dream, and who so kindly 
honoured him and hospitably entertained the venerable 
patriarch Jacob and his family. 

The traveller, therefore, here gazes upon the same 
lofty spire which more than three thousand years ago 
may have first caught the eye of that ancient patriarch, 
while yet far away out in the desert ; and which greeted 
his approach to the city of the Pharaohs. 

This obelisk, a single shaft, is sixty-two feet in 
height, and six feet square at the base, which rests on 
a pedestal ten feet square and two thick, and this again 
lies upon a second pedestal nineteen feet square, but its 
depth has not been ascertained. If this lower pedestal 
is a solid cube, the entire height of the pillar must have 
been more than eighty feet. 

Near this obelisk is an ancient sycamore-tree, be- 
neath which tradition relates that the holy family of 
Joseph and Mary reclined when they went down into 
Egypt.^ 

In his rebuke of the Jews who dwelt in the several 
cities of Egypt, the prophet (chap, xliv: 1) begins his 
survey with Migdol, on the eastern border of the country; 
then turns westward to Tahpanhes, then south up the 
Nile to Noph, or Memphis, in Central Egypt, and ends 

Obelisk ? Antiquity of it ? Hieroglyphics ? Egyptian king ? 
Shaft and pedestal ? Sycamore-tree ? Migdol ? Noph ? 



332 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

with the country of Pathros or Thebais, further up the 
Nile, in Upper Egypt. 

CITY OF NO. 

In announcing the judgments which were to be exe- 
cuted on Egypt, the prophet instances the '^ multitude 
of No," as subjects of Divine punishment. This is the 
magnificent city of Thebes, in Upper Egypt, five hun- 
dred miles above Cairo, at once the most ancient and 
most vast and stupendous in its ruins of all the desolate 
cities of antiquity. Thousands have visited these ruins, 
and volumes have been written in description of them ; 
but no power of the pen or pencil can give any adequate 
conception of their matchless grandeur. 

All that was imposing in the structures even of 
Babylon and Nineveh sinks into insignificance in com- 
parison with them ; and yet Thebes was in ruins before 
either of these cities flourished. «' Art thou better than 
populous No ?." says Nahum when delivering the burden 
of Nineveh, more than 700 B. C. '' She was carried 
away; she went into captivity; her young children 
also were dashed in pieces at the top of all her streets ; 
and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her 
great men were bound in chains." (Nahum iii : 8-10.) 
Homer describes Thebes as ' 

" The world's great Empress on the Egyptian plains ; 
That spreads her conquests o'er a thousand states. 
And pours her heroes through a hundred gates. '^ 

We must dismiss this subject by referring the reader 

Thebais? 

Name of No ? Situation ? Antiquity of it ? Stupendous ruins ? 
Comparison with Nineveh and Babylon ? Destruction described by 
Nahum? 



THE CITY OF NO. 333 

to the descriptions of Drs. Robinson, Olin, and Durbin, 
and of Mr. Stephens. 

In his prophecy against Moab (chap, xlviii.), the pro- 
phet particularizes several towns, the most of which have 
either occured before, or are now unknown. «^ Kiria- 
thaim and Misgab are confounded and dismayed." The 
former, celebrated for its connexion with the earliest war- 
like expedition on record (Gen. xiv: 5; Comp. xiii: 19), 
belonged to the tribe of Reuben, at the head of the 
Zarka, east of the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, 
and a mile or two west of Medeba. Misgab has not 
been recovered. 

Dibon and Aroer, formerly cities of Ammon, now be- 
long to Moab. In verses 21, 22, the prophet, according 
to Hitzig, mentions only such places as lay on the 
plains of Medeba, south of Heshbon. (Comp. Josh, xiii : 
16.) What was true of these was equally applicable to 
all the others. 

Bozrah, Winer supposes, may be some town in this 
vicinity, and not that further north, which is generally 
known by this name. Several of these towns are no 
more known, and some have been already noticed. 
Beth-meon is found two miles south-east of Heshbon. 

Sibmah and Jazer (verse 32) have been noticed in 
the parallel passage of Isaiah xvi : 8. The Sea of Jazer 
may mean the waters or the river of Jazer. So also 
No is said to have her ramparts upon the sea^ i. e. the 
river, and her wall running out from the sea — that is, 
from the river Nile. (Nahum iii; 8.) The same ex- 
pression is still in Egypt a familiar appellation of the 
Nile. 

Kiriathaim? Distinguished for what? Misgab? Dibon? Aroer? 
Beth-meon, where ? Sea of Jazer ? Sea at No, what ? 



834 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

In the prophecy against Ammon, Ai (Jer. xlix : 3 ; 
Comp. Ezek. xxv: 1—11) is some unknown town, not 
to be confounded with Ai north of Jerusalem. 

Bozrah in this place is the last inhabited town in the 
south of the Hauran. This is nearly on a parallel with 
the mountains of Gilboa, and sixty miles east of Jordan. 

It is now inhabited only by a few families of Fellahs, 
but was once a walled town of great strength, and the 
capital of a Roman province of Arabia. The ruins are 
five or six miles in circumference, and consist of dilapi- 
dated walls, private dwellings, of which the roofs have 
fallen in, of two churches, a magnificent mosque, a 
temple still more splendid, a triumphal arch, and a 
Saracenic castle. 

There is also an immense cistern almost entire, a 
hundred and ninety feet long, a hundred and fifty-three 
wide, and twenty deep. '' I have sworn by myself, saith 
the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a re- 
proach, a waste, and a curse ; and all the cities thereof 
shall be perpetual wastes," of which mention is made 
in the parallel passage in Ezekiel xxv : 9. 

Kedar and Hazor (xlix : 28-34) are, in this con- 
nexion, not cities, but w^andering tribes of the Arabian 
desert, between Moab and Ammon, and the Euphrates. 

BABYLON. 

The prophecy of Jeremiah closes with a prediction 
of the destruction of Babylon, which nothing in the 
whole range of profane literature can equal for sublimity 
and beauty. (Jer. 1; li: 1-58.) Babylon stood on a 

Ai? Situation of Bozrah? Inhabitants? Ruins? Kedar and 
Hazor ? 

Situation of Babylon ? 



EZEKIEL. 835 

perfect plain, and was an exact square of not less than 
fifteen miles on each side, or sixty in circumference. 
The Euphrates ran through the midst of it. The walls 
were more than eighty-seven feet thick and three hun- 
dred high ; they were surrounded by a deep ditch, and 
pierced by a hundred gates, all of solids brass. These 
streets, intersecting at right angles, divided the city into 
six hundred and seventy-six equal squares. The parts 
of the city were united by a bridge over the Euphrates. 

The most wondrous structures were the temple of 
Belus and the palace of Nebuchadnezzar. The outer 
walls of the latter embraced six miles. The ruins of 
Babylon are very extensive, grand, gloomy, and deso- 
late beyond description. 

Who at this time, when Jeremiah and other prophets 
wrote, would have predicted the fall of Babylon 
the Great, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the 
Chaldees' excellency, the queen of nations ? But its 
destruction is complete and entire. It has become 
" heaps, a dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment 
and a hissing." It has been ^' swept away with the 
besom of destruction." It was captured by Cyrus 539 
B. C, in the forty-ninth year after the destruction of 
Jerusalem, and the sixty-ninth of the captivity. 

EZEKIEL. 

Ezekiel was one of the exiles on the river Chebar. 
His prophetic office was exercised from the fifth to the 
twenty-seventh year of the captivity. This period falls 

Dimensions of the city ? Of the walls ? The ditch ? The gates ? 
Bridge ? Temple of Belus ? Palace ? Prophetic description of her 
grandeur ? Of her desolation ? Capture^, when and by whom ? 

Ezekiel, contemporary with whom? Period of his prophetic 
office? 



336 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

entirely within that of Jeremiah, who began to prophesy 
thirty-four years before Ezekiel, and continued the office 
six or seven years after him. 

The prophecy of Ezekiel against Tyre (chap, xxvii.) 
has been already considered. Syene (verse 10) occurs 
in his prophecy against Egypt. This town was the 
southern limit of Egypt, at the cataracts of the Nile. 
Here, according to Strabo, was a certain well, into 
which the sun shone perpendicularly once a year, at 
the winter solstice, proving that it was exactly under 
the tropic. The truth of the statement may, however, 
well be doubted. 

What is rendered the town of Syene (Ezek. xxix: 
10) is itself Migdol, in the north-east of Egypt, north 
of Suez ; and the meaning of the passage is — that God 
is against the whole land in its extreme length from 
north to south, from Migdol to Syene, even unto the 
border of Ethiopia. So in the next chapter, verse 6, 
the pride of her power shall come down, from Migdol 
to Syene. 

In the verse preceding (Ezek. xxx : 5), the remote 
provinces, from which Egypt drew recruits for her 
armies, Ethiopia, Lydia, and Libya, are included in 
her overthrow. 

Chub, another people included in the sentence, has 
given the learned much trouble. It has been supposed 
to be Libya, Mauritania, Nubia, a city on the Mareotis, 
and a port in Ethiopia. Havernick understands Chub 
to be the same as Kufa, a people of peculiar costume, 
who are often seen on Egyptian sculpture, and '« who 
appear to have inhabited a part of i^sia, considerably 

Syene ? Well described by Strabo ? Town of Syene ? Mean- 
ing of the prophecy ? Suppositions respecting Chub ? 



DANIEL. 337 

north of the latitude of Palestine." These, whoever 
they may have been, and their confederates, are included 
in the curse. 

Sin (Ezek. xxx: 16) was Pelusium, on the eastern 
branch of the Nile, twenty miles from the sea. It was 
once a place of great importance, and strongly fortified, 
as the eastern frontier of Egypt, though situated in the 
midst of swamps and morasses. It was near this place 
that Pompey met his death by order of Ptolemy, whose 
protection he sought. 

Aven (Ezek. xxx : 17) is On, Heliopolis. Pibesheth 
is Bubastis, near the commencement of the ancient 
canal from the Nile to the Red Sea, at Suez. There 
w^as a yearly festive pilgrimage to a temple in this city, 
the remains of which are scarcely identified amidst the 
extensive and indiscriminate ruins of the place. 

Gog and Magog (Ezek. xxxviii : 2) are generally un- 
derstood to represent the vast hordes of northern Asia, 
known to the ancients under the general name of Scy- 
thians. 

DANIEL. 

This wonderful man and prophet was among the first 
captives to Babylon, and lived to a very great age a 
courtier at that city until its capture; and afterwards at 
Shushan, the winter residence of the kings of the Medes 
and Persians. The incidents of his book extend 
through a period of about seventy years. 

The land of Shinar, to w^hich he was carried (Dan. i : 
2), was Babylonia, the country of Babylon. Babylonia 

* 

Sin? Death of Pompey ? Aven? Pibesheth? Pilgrimage to 
its temple ? Ruins ? Gog and Magog ? 

Daniel, when carried captive ? Residence and mode of life ? 
Period embraced in his prophecy ? Shinar ? 
22 



338 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

is an extensive plain, unbroken by a single hill. This 
is the plain of Dura, on which Nebuchadnezzar set up 
his golden image. (Dan. iii:2.) 

Shushan, the residence of Daniel under the Persian 
kings, was one or two hundred miles east-south-east of 
Babylon, in latitude 31^ 36' and east longitude 48^26', 
by the river Ulai. It was a place of immense wealth, 
and adorned with all the appliances of oriental luxury 
and voluptuousness; palaces, courts, and parks of vast 
extent, all of which have sunk down to an indiscrimi- 
nate and extensive range of ruins. One mound is a 
mile in circumference, and another nearlv two. Under 
the latter is a small dome-like building called the tomb 
of Daniel, where a solitary dervise resides, impressed 
with the peculiar sanctity of the place. 

'« The site of this once noble metropolis of the ancient 
princes of Elam, is now a mere wilderness, given up to 
beasts of prey ; no human being disputing their right, 
excepting the poor dervise who keeps watch over the 
tomb of the prophet. The friend to whom I am in- 
debted for the outlines I subjoin, passed the night under 
the same protection, listening to the screams of hyaenas, 
and the roaring of lions, wandering around its solitary 
walls. 

"• The venerable recluse showed him several blocks 
of stone curiously sculptured, and of evident antiquity, 
two of which he sketched hastily, and allowing me to 
copy, also described them to me.'"^ 

Plain of Dura ? Situation of Shushan ? Wealth and splendour of 
it ? Present condition ? 

* Sir R. Kerr Porter. 



EZRA. 339 

EZRA— RETURN OF THE FIRST CARAVAN. 

This interesting portion of Jewish history is concisely 
and clearly stated by Jahn. It is an historical survey 
of the book of Ezra : — 

''Cyrus, in the first year of his reign (536 B.C., 
seventy of the captivity, fifty-two after the destruction 
of Jerusalem and the temple), proclaimed throughout 
his empire, by a herald and by a written order, that all 
the people of the God of heaven, without exception, 
had liberty to return to Judea, and rebuild the temple 
at Jerusalem. This general permission, therefore, 
extended to the Israelites in Assyria, Halah, Gozan, 
and Media, as well as to the Jews at Chebar and 
Babylon. 

'' As Cyrus announced in his edict that Jehovah the 
God of heaven had given him all the kingdoms of the 
earth and charged him to build a temple at Jerusalem, 
this proclamation was not merely a permission, but 
rather an invitation to all the Hebrews to return and 
rebuild the temple. He accordingly delivered to the 
returning exiles five thousand four hundred sacred ves- 
sels of gold and silver, which Nebuchadnezzar had 
carried from Jerusalem to Babylon, prescribed the size 
of the temple, and directed that the expense of its erec- 
tion should be defrayed from the royal treasury ; all 
which particulars were verified by a written edict found 
fifteen years after in the archives at Ecbatana. (Ezra i : 
1-11; vi: 2-5.) 

" Thus were the mountains laid low and the valleys 



Who ordered the return of the Jews ? At what time ? In what 
manner ? For what purpose ? What grants did he make to them ? 
Return of the first caravan ? 



340 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

filled up for the return of the Hebrews to Palestine ; 
that is, all obstacles were removed. Zerubbabel, grand- 
son of the king Jehoiachin, and Jeshua, a grandson of 
the high-priest Jozadak, and ten of the principal elders, 
prepared themselves for the journey. To these were 
joined forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty peo- 
ple, whose servants amounted to seven thousand three 
hundred and thirty-seven, so that the whole number 
was nearly fifty thousand. (Ezra ii : 2, 64 ; Comp. 
Neh. vii: 7.) 

'' Those who were to return, assembled at an ap- 
pointed place, according to the usual mode of collecting 
a caravan, and furnished themselves with provisions 
and other things necessary for the journey. Their 
camels, horses, and beasts of burden amounted to 
eight thousand one hundred and thirty-six. Zerubba- 
bel, the director of the caravan, received the sacred 
utensils which had been restored, and the donations 
towards the building of the temple, made by those who 
remained behind. 

'' Encumbered as they were with baggage and small 
children, they were obliged to travel slowly, and their 
journey took up four months. (Ezra 1:8-11; ii:63- 
67 ; vi : 7 ; vii : 9). Accordingly, the caravan could 
not have arrived in Judea before the close of the first 
year of Cyrus. Thus the Jews returned precisely at the 
termination of the seventieth year of the captivity, 
the fifty-second year after the destruction of the tem- 
ple."^ 

Number of them ? Place of departure ? How encumbered ? Arri- 
val in Judea ? 

* Jahn, chap. vii. p. 64, 65. 



SECOND CARAVAN, 341 

SECOND CARAVAN. 

<'From various circumstances, it appears very proba- 
ble that both the Artaxerxes of Ezra, who is mentioned 
next after Darius Hystaspis, and the Ahasuerus of 
Esther, are names of Xerxes I. We can easily account 
for it that this king, who in the seventh year of his 
reign had made Mordecai the Jew his prime minister, 
and Esther the Jewess his queen, should give to Ezra 
the Jew a commission conferring such full powers as 
we find that Ezra possessed. (Ezra vi ; vii ; viii : 31 ; 
Esther ii ; Dan. ix : 1.) 

'« The Hebrew colony in Judea seems never to have 
been in a very flourishing condition. The administra- 
tion of justice was particularly defective, and neither 
civil nor religious institutions w^ere firmly established. 
Accordingly, the king gave permission anew for all 
Hebrews to emigrate to Judea. This was in fact re- 
newing the invitation to the Jews to return to their 
native land. The priest Ezra, a celebrated scribe, was 
appointed governor, with a commission to appoint 
judges, superior and inferior, to rectify abuses, to en- 
force the observance of the law, and to punish the 
refractory with fines, imprisonment, banishment, or 
death, according to the aggravation of their offences. 

«'He also had permission to make a collection for 
the temple, among the Hebrews who chose to remain 
in the land of their exile ; and the king and his coun- 
sellers not only contributed generously towards the 
same object, but the managers of the royal revenues 
west of the Euphrates, were ordered to supply Ezra 

Who was Artaxerxes ? Condition of the colony ? Renewed in- 
vitation to return ? Who was governor of it ? Supplies provided ? 



342 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

with all he should require, of silver to one hundred tal- 
ents, wheat to one hundred cors, wine and oil to one 
hundred baths of each, and salt without limitation, that 
the sacrifices might be legally and regularly offered, 
that the wrath of the God of heaven should not be 
against the realm of the king and of his sons. 

«' Also all who were employed in the services of the 
temple, even the common labourers (Nethinims), were 
exempted from tribute, and thus placed on an equality 
with the Medes and Persians. This was done to influ- 
ence the priests and Levites to settle at Jerusalem, for 
as yet but very few of them had returned. (Ezra vii ; 
viii : 15-20.) From the whole letter it is manifest, that 
the God of the Hebrews was held in high veneration at 
the Persian court, ever after the time of Cyrus. 

" Although exemption from tribute was secured to 
the Levites who would emigrate to Judea, yet none of 
this tribe were found in the caravan which assembled in 
Babylonia, on the banks of the unknown river Ahava, 
and it was with difficulty that Ezra induced two fami- 
lies of priests to accompany him. 

" The caravan consisted of sixteen houses, which, 
including w^omen and children, probably amounted to 
six thousand persons. After a journey of three months 
and a half, the new colony arrived at Jerusalem, depo- 
sited at the temple the donations they had received for 
it, and Ezra delivered his credentials to the royal offi- 
cers of that district. (Ezra viii.)"' 






Inducements to the priests and Levites to return ? Effect of these 
inducenaents upon them ? 



* Jahn, chap. vii. pp. 70^ 71. 



NEHEMIAH. 343 

BOOK OF ESTHER. 

This book belongs to this period of Jewish history. 
Ahasuerus was Xerxes, a vain, weak monarch, famous 
for his disastrous expedition against Greece, and his 
voluptuousness and cruelty. His reign is acknowledged 
to have begun as early as 485 B. C, perhaps 487 B. C. ; 
and the elevation of Esther to have occurred seven years 
later, December 481, or January 480, in which case all 
the events recorded in the book of Esther transpired 
before the invasion of Greece. 

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah w^ere contempo- 
rary with Ezra, and laboured to encourage the people 
to build the temple. Haggai began his prophecy on the 
first day of the sixth month, equivalent to the 4th of 
August, 518 B. C, three months after the seventieth 
anniversary of the destruction of the temple ; thus there 
was a second fulfilment of the prophecy of seventy 
years. Zechariah entered upon his prophetic office in 
September following, and the temple was completed 
February 16, 513 B. a 

NEHEMIAH. 

In the year 444 B. C, Nehemiah, a Jewish cup-bearer 
in the palace at Shushan, received intelligence of the 
state of his people in Judea, so unfavourable that it 
deeply affected his spirits. His depression led the king 
to inquire the cause of his grief. To which he replied : 
'' Why should not my countenance be sad when the 

Who was Ahasuerus ? Noted for what expedition ? Character ? 
Date of his reign ? Esther as queen, when ? Haggai and Zechariah ? 
Beginning of the prophecy of Haggai ? Of Zechariah ? 

Who was Nehemiah ? Employment ? Grief? Reply to the king ? 



344 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste ; 
and the gates thereof are consumed with fire ?" 

The result was that he received a royal commission 
to go as governor of Judea and fortify Jerusalem. This 
commission he fulfilled Avith incredible energy and 
despatch ; and, in the face of insult, discouragement, 
and opposition of every kind, carried up the wall of the 
city and established its defences. 

He annulled the mixed marriages of the people, 
reformed abuses, restored the order of their religion, and 
the regular administration of justice. After an efficient 
and successful administration he returned, at the end 
of twelve years, to the palace at Shushan, where he is 
supposed to have resided twenty-four years. During 
this time the colony at Jerusalem fell again into such a 
disordered state that he was constrained to return 
and effect a thorough reform, both in the religion and 
government of the state. 

It was during this deplorable condition of the people, 
about the time of the second reformation of Nehemiah, 
that the prophet Malachi arose, 410 B. C, the last of 
those inspired reprovers of the sins of men, until the 
coming of John the Baptist, that forerunner of the Lord, 
of stern and awful sanctity, sent to prepare the way for 
his coming by the preaching of repentance. 

There is here a chasm of four hundred years in the 
sacred history, until the coming of Christ and com- 
mencement of the Christian Era. This interval we pass 
in silence, and turn at once to the historical geography 
of the New Testament, and especially to the incidents 
connected with the life and ministry of our Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ. 

His commissioQ ? How executed ? Return to Shushan ? Resi- 
dence there t State of things at Jerusalem ? Return to that city ? 



~; a: 





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36 




HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY 



OF THE 



NEW TESTAMENT. 



CHAPTER I. 
POLITICAL DIVISIONS. 

The distinction of the tribes was lost after the Baby- 
lonish captivity; and, in the interval from that to the 
time of our Saviour, new divisions of the land of the 
Jews arose. The w^hole country was, at this time, 
divided into four different provinces, sometimes united 
under one ruler, sometimes governed by different 
princes. These four divisions were Galilee, Samaria, 
Judea, and Perea. Of these, the first three were in 
Palestine proper, on this side Jordan. The last included 
the original territory of the tribes beyond Jordan. 

GALILEE. 

This was the northern province of the country. It 
was bounded on the west by the Mediterranean, or 
rather Phoenicia, to which the line of the coast belonged; 

Distinction of tribes, when lost ? Divisions of the country ? 
Boundaries of Galilee ? 

345 



346 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

on the north by Syria and the mountains of Lebanon ; on 
the east by the Jordan, the Lake Hiileh, and Gennesaret, 
the Sea of Galilee; and on the south by Samaria. 

The line of divison between Samaria and Galilee is 
not very clearly defined, but it corresponds nearly with 
the southern limit of the great plain of Es^raelon, and 
runs in an oblique and irregular direction, from near 
Mount Carmel to the Jordan, below Gennesaret and in 
the neighbourhood of Beth-shean. It included the origi- 
nal territory of Asher, Naphthali, Zebulun, and Issachar. 

Galilee again w^as divided into two provinces, north- 
ern and southern. The former, called also Galilee of 
the Gentiles, lying north of the plain of Esdraelon, was 
hilly and mountainous; the latter, level. Both were 
very fertile, and densely populated. 

All that has been said of the fertility of Palestine is 
particularly applicable to this section of the country. 
About the plain of Jezreel and the Sea of Galilee it is 
described by Josephus as a perfect paradise. All tra- 
vellers concur in admiring its fertility as well as its beau- 
tiful and picturesque scenery. In the time of Josephus, 
there were, as w^e have already stated, two hundred 
towns and villages in Galilee, many of which had fifteen 
thousand, and some a hundred thousand inhabitants. He 
himself, in the last Jewish war against the Romans, 
readily raised a hundred thousand volunteers from this 
province. 

After the captivity, Galilee was settled by a mixed 
race of foreigners and Jews. The country was favoura- 
bly situated for intercourse and commerce wdth other 
nations. Two large caravan routes passed through it 

Between Galilee and Samaria ? Tribes in Galilee ? Subdivisions ? 
Fertility ? Populousness of it ? Mixed population ? Caravan routes ? 



SAMARIA. 347 

from Damascus ; one to the port of Acre ; the other, 
down the coast to Egypt. These caravans crossed the 
Jordan between Lake Huleh and Gennesaret, on 
Jacob's Bridge. 

In consequence of their mixed origin and their inter- 
course with foreigners, the language of the Galileans 
became so provincial that their speech easily betrayed 
them as Galileans. (Matt. xxvi:73; Mark xiv: 70.) 
For the same general reason they were less bigoted than 
the Jews of Judea, and more tolerant towards Christ, 
as an apparent innovator in their religion. He accord- 
ingly passed the greater part of his public ministry in 
Galilee, and chose his disciples from this country, where 
his miracles and instructions excited less hostility than 
at Jerusalem. 

SAMARIA. 

The province of Samaria was immediately south of 
Galilee, between that and Judea, and between the 
Mediterranean and the Jordan. It belonged originally 
to the kingdom' of Israel, in distinction from that of 
Judah. In the captivity it had been settled by foreign 
colonists sent out from Assyria. 

At the building of the second temple, so many of the 
Jews had returned as to establish in some degree a cor- 
rupted form of Judaism. So that the Samaritans pro- 
posed to unite with the Jews of Jerusalem in building 
their temple: «' Let us build with you; for we seek 
your God as ye do." (Ezra iv : 2.) This proposal, 
however, was rejected ; and, for this and other reasons. 

Language ? Freedom from bigotry ? Why so much frequented 
by our Lord ? 

Samaria ? Mixed population ? Proposed union with the Jews 
to build the temple ? 



348 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

an irreconcileable enmity sprang up between the Jews 
and Samaritans. „ 

Thus the very word Samaritan became a term of 
reproach with the Jews (John viii : 48) ; and all inter- 
course between the two parties was suspended, inso- 
much, that the woman of Samaria was surprised that 
Christ, as a Jew, should condescend to converse with 
her, a Samaritan (John iv : 9). 

Samaria was at this time the smallest of the four pro- 
vinces above mentioned, and comprised only the prin- 
cipal part of the territory of the tribes of Ephraim and 
Manasseh. 

JUDEA. 

This division included on the north the tribe of Ben- 
jamin, and extended south to the boundaries of ancient 
Palestine. It was the largest of the three divisions 
already mentioned ; and was at this time, as it had 
ever been, the appropriate land of the Jews, from whom 
it took this name after the captivity. 

The country is hilly and broken, and less fertile than 
Galilee ; but a portion of its plains, particularly on the 
west, was very productive. Jerusalem, the capital of 
the whole country, was in this province. It was the 
great object of interest and union to all the Jews, and 
opened various sources of gain to a numerous popula- 
tion. 

It was the place of solemn assembly to the whole 
nation, at their great yearly festivals. It was the seat 
of their religion. Here was the temple, with all its 
mysterious rites. Here, therefore, the Jew appeared in 

Enmity to the Jews ? Comparative extent ? Tribes in Samaria ? 
Boundaries of Judea ? Face of the country? Fertility? Capi- 
tal ? Attachment of the Jews to it ? 



GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCES. 349 

all his national characteristics, entertaining a proud con- 
sciousness of his importance as the seed of Abraham, 
and favourite of heaven, blindly attached to the rites of 
his religion, and almost equally regardless of the purity 
of its principles ; looking down with proud contempt 
upon every foreigner, regarding with unmitigated ab- 
horrence the power of the Romans, and firmly expecting 
a king who should establish himself on the throne of 
universal dominion. 

GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCES. 

At the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Herod the 
Great ruled over all the land of Palestine, from Dan to 
Beer-sheba, together with the whole of Perea, east of 
Jordan. Two years after the coming of Christ, Herod 
died, leaving the government of the country to different 
members of his family. 

To Archelaus, what was properly regarded as his 
kingdom, Idumea, Judea, and Samaria ; to Herod 
Antipas his son, Galilee and Perea; and to Philip, the 
northern part of Perea, and the country east of Jordan, 
and extending northward to the region of Damascus. 

This country comprised Gaulonitis, east of the Sea 
of Galilee ; Batanea, south-east of this, covering a part 
of ancient Bashan ; Panea, around and east of the 
sources of the Jordan, of which Csesarea Philippi was 
the capital ; and Trachonitis, extending east of these 
to the desert. 

The relative value of these territories may be estima- 
ted by the revenues derived from them. The territory 

Government of Herod ? His death ? Province of Archelaus ? 
Of Antipas? Of Philip? Gaulonitis? Batanea? Bashan? Pa- 
nea ? Trachonitis ? Revenues of each province ? 



350 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of Archelaus yielded six hundred talents ; that of An- 
tipaSj two hundred ; and that of Philip, one hundred. 

ROMAN POWER. 

About the time of Christ's first visit to Jerusalem, 
Archelaus was banished to Gaul, and his territory re- 
duced to the form of a Roman province, governed by 
Roman procurators. This change threw into the rough 
hands of strangers those powers which he had previ- 
ously exercised. 

The power of the Sanhedrim had been nearly de- 
stroyed by Herod the Great ; the power of life and death 
was now taken away, and the J€ws, though left in the 
enjoyment of their religion and their own forms of go- 
vernment to a considerable degree, felt severely the 
power of Roman bondage. 

Severe exactions were made upon them of tribute, 
which was paid directly to their masters, the Romans ; 
by whom also government was exercised and justice 
administered. 

The procurator resided at Csesarea, and quartered 
bis troops upon the town at his pleasure. A cohort was 
stationed at Jerusalem, in the tower of Antonia, so as to 
command the temple, and quell any popular tumult. 

Such was the nature of government at the time of the 
public ministry and death of our Lord. This govern- 
ment was administered by Pontius Pilate, the Roman 
procurator, a weak, cruel, and avaricious man, who. 

Banishment of Archelaus ? Roman procurators ? Abridgment 
of the Jewish rights ? Of the power of the Sanhedrim 1 Religious 
rights of the Jews ? Severe exactions ? Residence of the governor ? 
Troops, how supported ? Military force at Jerusalem ? Pontius 
Pilate's government ? Character ? 



CHRONOLOGICAL DATA. 351 

notwithstanding his cruelty and his vices, bore ample 
testimony to the innocence of the accused whom the 
Jews brought before him for condemnation, and reluc- 
tantly gave his consent to the execution of that just man. 
Vainly seeking some sweet aspersion to wash away the 
stain of that innocent blood on his soul, " He took water 
and washed his hands, saying : I am innocent of the 
blood of this just man : see ye to it." 

CHRONOLOGICAL DATA. 

The public ministry of our Lord is generally supposed 
to have continued three years and a half. In perusing 
the memoirs of his life in the Evangelists, the reader will 
be directed to the several portions of the Evangelists, in 
the order observed by Dr. Robinson, the latest and most 
approved harmonist of the Gospels. 

Indeed, the Gospels should ever oe studied in har- 
mony, and in the original language, if the student is 
competent to read it. If not, he is provided with an 
English Harmony by Dr. Robinson, which the reader 
is earnestly recommended to use in his perusal of the 
records of our Lord's life and ministry. 

The gospel of John appears to be supplemental to the 
other three, and to observe almost upiformly the chro- 
nological order of the events narrated. Mark, in this 
respect, compares very well with John, while Matthew 
and Luke, in their narrations, regard less the order of 
events. 

The date of these Gospels, according to our Chro- 

Attestation to the innocence of our Lord's character ? 

Continuance of our Lord's ministry? Approved harnnony? 
John's Gospel ? Order of events observed in this ? In Mark? In 
Luke ? In Matthew ? Date of each of the Gospels ? 



352 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

nologist, is as follows : Matthew, A. D. 56 ; Luke, 58 ; 
Mark, 58-61 ; John 61. This last date is in accordance 
with early tradition. Others suppose that John wrote 
many years later in Patmos ; but at what time during 
a period of forty years, from A. D. 60 to 100, cannot 
be determined by internal or scriptural evidence. 



CHAPTER II. 
SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 

PART I.— EVENTS CONNECTED W^ITH THE BIRTH AND CHILD- 

HOOD OP OUR LORD. 

Time : About thirteen and a half years. 

§ 1. Preface to Lul^^'s Gospel. (Luke i : 1-4.) 

§ 2. Angel appears to Zacharias at Jerusalem. (Luke i : 5-25.) 

Zacharias was one of the ordinary priests. These, 
Vv^hen instituted by David, were divided into twenty- 
four classes. (1 Chron. xxiv : 3-19 ; 2 Chron. viii : 14.) 
These classes served each one week, and were relieved 
every Sabbath. Their daily duty, in which Zacharias 
w^as at this time engaged, was to burn daily incense on 
the altar of incense, in the first or outer sanctuary. 

§ 3. An angel appears to Mary at Nazareth. (Luke i : 26-38.) 

Nazareth, the residence of Joseph and Mary, where 
Jesus passed thirty years of his life, is about seventy 
miles north of Jerusalem, six or seven west-north- 
west of Mount Tabor, and fifteen from the Sea of Tibe- 
rias, a little south of the parallel of its southern ex- 
Annunciation of the angel to Zacharias ? Nunaber of the classes 
of priests ? By whonfi instituted ? Their duties ? Annunciation to 
Mary? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 353 

tremity. It is just north of the plain of Esdraelon, at 
the head of a narrow valley which runs up from the 
plain. Here it lies ensconced in a lovely little dell or 
basin, and surrounded on all sides by hills, according 
to Schubert, eight hundred feet in height. 

It contains about three thousand inhabitants, the most 
of whom are nominal Christians. The hills rise high 
and steep above the town^ and from the summit opens a 
most noble prospect of the surrounding country of hill 
and dale and mountain and plain, more lovely in pros- 
pect, and more rich in sacred associations, than any 
other section of the Holy Land. 

Dr. Wilson well sketches the surrounding scenery 
from this eminence : — 

'« To the north- w^est of us, overlooking a part of the 
country considerably wooded, we had the bay of Akka 
and Haifa, w^ith the clear blue expanse of the Mediter- 
ranean, or Great Sea of the Hebrew^s, spreading itself 
in the distance beyond. South of this, and striking to 
the south-east, we had the whole ridge of Carmel before 
usj which, though stripped of much of the glory of its 
olden forests, still presents striking memorials of that 
' excellency' for which it %vas so distinguished. 

'' To the south and south-w^est of us, somewhat cir- 
cular in its form, is seen here, bounded by the pictu- 
resque mountains of Samaria, the ^ great plain,' the 
battle-field of the country both in ancient and modern 
times, and probably the real or typical site of the battle 
of Armageddon. 

^' To the east and south-east of us, w^e had the little 

Valley of Nazareth ? Population ? Surrounding hills ? Prospect 
from them ? Distant objects to the north-west? To the south and 
south-west? 
23 



354 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Hermon, which, though bald on its crown, has consid- 
erable vegetation on its shoulders ; Mount Tabor, stand- 
ing apart in its own nobility, and like Nature's own 
pyramid, not commemorative of death, but instinct with 
life, and clothed with luxuriant verdure to its very sum- 
mits ; and the deep valley of the Jordan and the Sea of 
Tiberias, w^ith the equable hills and mountains of Bashan 
and Golan on its eastern side. 

<« To the north, beyond the plain of El-Battauf, we 
had the hills and mountains forming the continuation 
of the Lebanon ; and to the north-east, those forming 
the termination of the Anti-Lebanon, with Jebel Esh- 
Sheikh, the true Hermon, the chief of all the mountains 
of the land, moistened with the copious dews w^hich 
descend from his hoary locks. Many villages, includ- 
ing a considerable number mentioned in Scripture, were 
distinctly visible. 

^' Besides Jezreel, Jenin, Taanuk, Megiddo, and 
others, to which I have already alluded when passing over 
the great plain, w^e had before us, — beginning with Safa- 
riyah, the Sepphoris of Jewish history, called also Dio- 
Csesarea, lying immediately beyond the rather bare hills 
of Nazareth, and turning to the right, — Kana El-Jalil, 
or Cana of Galilee, which was privileged to witness the 
beginning of our Lord's miracles ; Safed, the famous 
sanctuary of Rabbinism, and supposed to be the ' city 
set upon a hill,' immediately before the attention of our 
Saviour and his disciples during the delivery of the ser- 
mon on the mount ; Endor, the residence of the witch 
who is noticed in the history of Saul ; Nein, or Nain, 

Prospect to the east and south-east ? To the north ? What is 
said of Cana ? Safed, for what famous ? Endor ? Nain ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 855 

w-here the widow resided whose son was raised to life 
by our Lord. The associations of the scene were nu- 
merous and hallowed, independently of those immedi- 
ately connected with Nazareth below. 

" There is a good deal of soil on this hill of Nazareth ; 
and doubtless it is to a considerable extent capable of 
culture. It is covered in many of its patches with a 
species of erica, called bilad, which is found on all the 
hills of the country. With this are mixed a good many 
herbaceous and flow^ering plants, among which we no- 
ticed some of great beauty. 

" We continued some two or three hours on the top 
of this hill, w^here we conducted divine service, remem- 
bering the condescension and grace of that Saviour, 
who must have often ascended it to survey the works 
of his Father, and to behold the land over which were 
scattered the lost sheep of the house of Israel, whom he 
sought to save."* 

The sacred associations and solemn musings awa- 
kened by the scene before us are happily expressed by 
Dr. Robinson : — 

^' Seating myself in the shade of the Wely, I re- 
mained for some hours upon this spot, lost in the con- 
templation of the wide prospect, and of the events 
connected with the scenes around. In the village 
below, the Saviour of the world had passed his child- 
hood ; and although we have few particulars of his life 
during those early years, yet there are certain features 

Historical associations of the scene ? Soil of the hills ? Covered 
with what ? Plants and flowers ? Associations and solemn musings 
awakened ? 

* Dr. Wilson, vol. ii. 94-5. 



356 • HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of nature which meet our eyes now, just as they once 
naet his. 

'^ He must often have visited the fountain near which 
we had pitched our tent ; his feet must frequently have 
wandered over the adjacent hills ; and his eyes doubt- 
less have gazed upon the splendid prospect from this 
very spot. Here the Prince of Peace looked down upon 
the great plain, w^here the din of battles so oft had 
rolled, and the garments of the w^arrior been dyed in 
blood ; and he looked out too upon that sea, over which 
the swift ships were to bear the tidings of his salvation 
to nations and to continents then unknown. How has 
the moral aspect of things been changed ! Battles and 
bloodshed have indeed not ceased to desolate this un- 
happy country, and gross darkness now covers the peo- 
ple ; but from this region a light went forth, which has 
enlightened the world and unveiled new climes ; and 
now the rays of that light begin to be reflected back 
from distant isles and continents, to illuminate anew 
the darkened land, where it first sprung up."^ 

To these we subjoin the reflections and impressions 
of Lamartine : — 

'' It seemed to me, also, as I ascended the last hills 
which separated me from Nazareth, that I was going to 
contemplate, on the spot, the mysterious origin of that 
vast and fertile religion which, for these two thousand 
years, has made its road from the heights of the moun- 
tains of Galilee through the universe, and watered so 
many human generations with its pure and living wa- 



Fountain of Nazareth ? View of the plain ? Of the sea ? Influ- 
ence that has gone forth ? 

* Researches, vol. iii. 190, 191. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY.- 357 

ters! There is its source! there, in the hollow of the 
rocks on which I tread : this hill, the summit of which 
I am attaining, has borne on its sides the salvation, the 
life, the light, the hope of the world. 

'^ It was there, beneath that small portion of blue sky, 
at the bottom of that narrow and sombre valley, under 
the shade of that little hill whose old rocks seem yet 
split with the joyful trembling they felt in giving birth 
to and bearing the infant Word, or trembling with the 
pain they felt in burying that Word when crucified : it 
w^as there, lay that sacred and fateful spot which God 
had chosen from all eternity to launch upon the earth 
his truth, his justice, and his incarnate love, made mani- 
fest in an infant God. 

" As I made these reflections, my head bent, and 
my brain filled with a thousand thoughts still more 
weighty, I perceived at my feet, at the bottom of a val- 
ley hollowed out like a basin or a small lake, the white 
and gracefully grouped houses of Nazareth on the two 
sides and at the extremity of this basin. 

'' God alone knows what passed at that moment in 
my heart ; but by a spontaneous, and as it w^ere an in- 
voluntary movement, I found myself on my knees, at 
the feet of my horse, upon one of the blue and dusty 
paths of the precipice we were descending. I remained, 
I suppose, several minutes in silent contemplation, 
wherein all the thoughts of my life as a sceptic or a 
Christian, rushed upon my mind with such confusion, 
that it was impossible to class them ; these words alone 
escaped my lips : And the Word was made fleshy and 
dwelt amongst us. I pronounced them with the sublime, 

Reflections of Lamartine ? View of Nazareth sketched by him ? 
His impressions and devotions ? 



358 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

profound, and grateful sentiment they are calculated to 
inspire : the place indeed suggests them so naturally, 
that I was struck, on arriving in the evening at the 
sanctuary of the Latin church, to find them engraven in 
letters of gold, on the marble table of the subterranean 
altar in the house of Mary and Joseph."* 

§ 4. Mary visits Elizabeth.— Juttah. (Luke i : 39-56.) 

Judah (Luke i : 39), is supposed to be Juttah, a city 
of the mountains of Judah, five miles south of Hebron. 

This visit of Mary to Elizabeth, therefore, required 
her to make a journey of near a hundred miles, almost 
the whole length of the land, from north to south. 

§5. Birth of John the Baptist. — Juttah. (Luke i: 57-80.) 
§ 6. An angel appears to Joseph.— Nazareth. (Matt, i : 18-25.) 
§ 7. Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem. 
(Luke ii: 1-7.) 

The present date of the Nativity, which was estab- 
lished in the sixth century, is generally admitted to be 
four or five years too late ; so that instead of living in 
the year 1849, of the Christian era, we are actually in 
the year 1853 or 1854. 

It is known that the death of Herod soon followed the 
birth of Christ. But Josephus has recorded an eclipse 
of the moon as occurring on the night of Herod's death. 
Now astronomers have shown that no such eclipse could 
have occurred at the time, according to the present date 
of the Christian era, and that it must have been on 
the night between the 12th and 13th of March, four 
yean before the time assigned to the Nativity. But the 
birth of Christ preceded the death of Herod, and must 

Visit of Mary to Elizabeth ? Distance of the journey ? Birth- 
place of John ? Birth of Jesus, where ? Date of the nativity, too 
late ? How shown from the death of Herod ? Eclipse of the moon ? 

* Vol. i. 194-197. 



^., 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 359 

therefore have transpired at least four years before the 
date of the Christian era. Many other considerations 
enter into the discussion of this question, which are too 
recondite to be detailed in this place. 

§ 8. An angel appears to the shepherds near Bethlehem. (Luke ii : 
8-20.) 

§ 9. The circumcision of Jesus, and his presentation in the tem- 
ple. — Bethlehem, Jerusalem. (Luke ii : 21-38.) 

§ 10. The Magi. — Jerusalem, Bethlehem. (Matt, ii : 1-12.) 

But who were these Magi ? whence came they } and 
what w^as the star by which they w^ere guided ? They 
were Chaldean Magi, from the region of Babylon and 
the Euphrates. They were the learned men of their 
country, and sustained there, in some degree, the same 
relation as the chief priests and scribes among the Jews. 

The conviction had long been spread throughout the 
East as w^ll as in Palestine, that, about the time of our 
era, a great and victorious prince, or Messiah, would 
appear among the Jews. His coming v/as supposed, 
from Numbers xxiv : 17, to have some connexion with 
the appearance of a star. Some such phenomenon evi- 
dently excited the attention of these w^ise men, and 
influenced them to enter upon this long pilgrimage, in 
search of the expected king of the Jews. 

It' is, perhaps, the common opinion that some super- 
natural or meteoric appearance guided them, like the 
pillar of a cloud, to the Israelites. But the notion has 
been entertained that the star may have been none other 
than a remarkable conjunction of the planets Jupiter and 
Saturn. If this be true, it will relieve the passage of 
many difficulties ; and confirm, by another astronomical 

Who were the Magi ? Whence came they ? Public expectation 
of a prince to be born ? Common impression respecting the star in 
the east ? Remarkable conjunction of the planets ? 






360 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

fact, the correction of our chronology, which has already 
been mentioned. The explanation as given below, 
has engaged the attention of many of the greatest minds, 
and is at least worthy of a respectful consideration. 

Professor Encke has shown, by calculation, that these 
planets came into conjunction May 29, B. C. 7, and 
were visible in the east before sunset. On October 1, 
they came a second time into conjunction ; and Decem- 
ber 5, again, the third time ; and in each instance so 
near as to appear to the unaided eye as united in one 
body. 

The third conjunction occurred precisely two years 
before the date assigned above to the nativity. Herod, 
on learning from the Magi the date of the appearing star, 
ordered the children two years and under to be slain. 
This consideration also dates the nativity back four years. 

It is not a little curious also, that '^ the Chinese astro- 
nomical tables inform us that a new star appeared at a 
time which would correspond with \he fourth year before 
the birth of Christ, according to our usual mode of 
computation." 

Now, if the Magi, on the first conjunction, w^ere in- 
duced to leave their country in search of the mysterious 
child, the expected king, they must have enjoyed the 
guidance of these stars. On their arrival at Jerusa- 
lem the stars were again united, so as to confirm their 
belief; and, by their position in the southern sky, di- 
rected them to Bethlehem, to which their attention 
must have been strongly turned by the same prophecies 
to w^hich the chief priests and scribes referred in their 
reply to Herod. 

Computations of Professor Encke? Date of these occurrences? 
Chinese tables ? Guidance of these stars to Jerusalem ? To Beth- 
lehem ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 361 

Daniel and Nehemiah had been many years courtiers 
in the palace at Shushan, where also a Hebrew maid had 
been queen ; to say nothing of Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abednego. Many Jews remained in the land of their 
captivity. So that these learned Magi may well be 
supposed to have become acquainted with the writings 
of the prophets. 

§ 11. The flight into Egypt. Herod's cruelty. The return. — 
Bethlehem, Nazareth. (Matt, ii : 13-23 ; Luke ii : 39, 40.) 

§ 12. At twelve years of age Jesus goes to the Passover. — Jeru- 
salem. (Luke ii: 41-52.) 

§ 13. The Genealogies. (Matt, i : 1-17 ; Luke iii : 23-38.) 

PART IL— ANNOUNCEMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF OUR LORD'S 

PUBLIC MINISTRY. 

Time : About one year. 

§ 14. The ministry of John the Baptist. — The Desert of the Jor- 
dan. (Matt, i : 1-12 ; Mark i : 1-8 ; Luke : iii : 1-18.) 

Herod, Archelaus, and Antipas, each continued in the 
provinces which they had inherited from their father, 
Herod the Great. Abilene is a small province, above 
Damascus, on the eastern slope of Anti-Libanus. But 
little is known of Lysanias, who was tetrarch of this 
province. 

The wilderness where John the Baptist preached was 
the wild mountainous country between Jerusalem and 
the Dead Sea, and extending down the western shore 
of this sea. This wilderness was not entirely destitute 
of the means of subsistence. The food of the Baptist 
was such as this desert affords, locusts and w^ild honey 
from the rocks. Josephus informs us that he himself 
lived in the same manner for three years, with his 

Means of acquaintance with the Scripture by the Magi ? Abilene, 
where ? Lysanias ? Wilderness where John preached ? Means of 
subsistence ? 



862 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

teacher Banus, " and had no other food than what grew 
of its own accord." 

§15. Baptism of Jesus. — The Jordan. (Matt, iii : 13-17; Mark 

i: 9-11; Luke iii: 21-23.) 
§ 16. The temptation Desert of Judea. (Matt, iv : 1-11 ; Mark 

i : 12, 13 ; Luke iv : 1-13.) 

The desolate region east of Jerusalem, overlooking 
the valley of the Jordan, is assumed to be this wilder- 
ness, into which our Lord retired after his baptism. It 
is nearly the same as that in which John began his 
ministry, but perhaps a few miles further north. It is 
remarkable that the great events of his life were made 
by him occasions of special praye7\ For such devotional 
purposes he seems to have withdrawn into these desert 
regions. 

The high mountain, which tradition assigns as the 
place of his temptation, is Quarantania, about three miles 
north of the road to Jericho. It is fifteen hundred or 
two thousand feet high, and '' distinguished for its sere 
and desolate aspect, even in this gloomy region of 
savage and dreary sights. Its highest summit is 
crowned with a chapel, still occasionally resorted to by 
the more devout pilgrims, while the eastern face, which 
overhangs the plain, and commands a noble view of the 
Arabian mountains, is much occupied with grottos and 
cells, the favourite abodes of pious anchorites." 

§ 17. Preface to John's Gospel. (John i : 1-18.) 
§ 18. Testimony of John the Baptist to Jesus. — Bethabara be- 
yond Jordan. (John i : 19-34.) 

Bethabara is supposed by Lucke to be Beth-bara, on 
the Jordan, to which Gideon summoned the Israelites 
to take the waters before the Midianites. (Judges vii : 

Object of our Lord in going into the wilderness ? Quarantania ? 
Bethabara, where ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 363 

24.) Jerome relates that many believers in his day, 
desirous of baptism, resorted there, and were baptized 
in the living stream. 

§19. Jesus gains disciples. — The Jordan. Galilee? ( John i : 

35-51.) 
§ 20. The marriage at Cana of Galilee. (John ii: 1-12.) 

Dr. Robinson supposes the third day to refer back to 
John i : 44. The two preceding days were sufficient 
for the journey to Cana, a distance, perhaps, of fifty 
miles. Cana of Galilee, as has been shown by Dr. 
Robinson, is not the Cana of most travellers, seen at 
the distance, five miles north-east of Nazareth, but 
Kana el-Jelil, about seven miles north of Nazareth, also 
in full view from the heights above this place. Cana 
is now a ruined, neglected place, but little known. 
'^ War, bloody, relentless war, has sw^ept over the little 
Cana of Galilee ; fire and sword have laid waste and 
destroyed the peaceful village in which Christ met the 
rejoicing wedding-party." 

PART III.— OUR LORD'S FIRST PASSOVER, AND THE SUBSEQUENT 
TRANSACTIONS UNTIL THE SECOND. 

Time : One year, 

§ 21. At the Passover Jesus drives the traders out of the tem- 
ple. — Jerusalem. (John ii : 13-25.) 

§ 22. Our Lord's discourse with Nicodemus. — Jerusalem. (John 
iii: 1-21.) 

§ 23. Jesus remains in Judea and baptizes. Further testimony 
of John the Baptist. (John iii : 22-36.) 

§ 24. Jesus departs into Galilee after John's imprisonment. (Matt, 
iv : 12 ; xiv : 3-5 ; Mark i : 14 ; vi : 17-20 ; Luke iv : 14 ; iii : 
19, 20; John iv : 1-3.) 

Jerome respecting baptisms ? Third day, what ? Cana, where 
according to tradition ? According to Dr. Robinson ? What dis- 
tance from Bethabara ? Ruined condition ? 



364 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

The journey between Jerusalem and Galilee was 
usually made in three days ; for which there were three 
different routes. 

1. One from Nazareth, by way of Endor and Nain, to 
Scythopolis or Beth-shean ; thence across the Jordan, 
and dow^n the east side of the river, through Perea, to a 
point opposite Jericho, and thence to Jerusalem. 

2. Proceeding obliquely across the plain of Esdraelon, 
from Nazareth to the coast below Mount Carmel, the 
traveller pursued his course along the coast by Csesarea, 
Antipatris, and Diospolis or Lydda, to Jerusalem. 

3. A more direct route was through the country to 
Shechem, and thence to Jerusalem. This middle route, 
which, in the present instance, our Lord pursued, was 
several miles shorter than either of the others. 

Jesus had already spent about eight months in Judea 
since the Passover, and was now returning, in Novem- 
ber or December, to Galilee. 

§ 25. Our Lord's discourse with the Samaritan woman. Many of 
the Samaritans believe on him. — Shechem or Neapolis. (John 
iv:4-42.) 

It w^as apparently about the middle of the second 
day's journey, and at the distance of thirty-five miles 
from Jerusalem, where our Lord held this interview 
wdth the woman of Samaria, at Jacob's Well. 

This was in the second year of John's public minis- 
try, which may have continued a year and six months 
previous to his imprisonment. Suppose Jesus to have 
been born October 1, and both John and Jesus to have 
entered on their public ministry at thirty years of age. 

Days' journey from Galilee to Jerusalem ? First route ? Second ? 
Third? Route of our Lord at this time ? Time of the conversation 
with the Samaritan woman ? Period in John's ministry ? Continu- 
ance of his ministry ? Time of entering upon it ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY, 365 

The ministry of Jesus began six months before the first 
Passover ; and eight months after this he is on his way 
to Galilee, in consequence of John's imprisonment ; but 
John's ministry began some months before that of Jesus. 
It must, therefore, have continued at least a year and a 
half. 

§26. Jesus teaches publicly in Galilee. (John iv : 43-45 ; Matt. 
iv : 17 ; Mark i : 14, 15 ; Luke iv : 14, 15.) 

§ 27. Jesus is again at Cana, where he heals the son of a noble- 
man lying ill at Capernaum. — Cana of Galilee. (John iv : 
46-54.) 

Capernaum was on the north-west shore of Gennesa- 
ret, twenty miles north-east from Cana. The nobleman 
appears to have been some member of the family of the 
king. The fame of Jesus had reached the court of 
Herod, though Jesus had, at this time, wrought but one 
miracle in Galilee. 

§ 28. Jesus at Nazareth ; he is there rejected ; and fixes his abode 
at Capernaum. (Luke iv : 16-31 ; Matt, iv : 13-16.) 

The hills south-west of Nazareth break offinto a per- 
pendicular precipice of forty or fifty feet ; and here, 
doubtless, is the brow^ of the hill to which his own citi- 
zens led him, that they might cast him down. Tradi- 
tion assigns for this incident another place, w^hich it is 
needless to describe. 

Capernaum becomes now the residence of Jesus. 
" Thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, 
shalt be brought down to hell ; for if the mighty works 
which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, 
it would have remained until this day." So completely 

Beginning of our Lord's ministry to imprisonment of John, time ? 
Situation of Capernaum ? Distance and direction from Cana ? Who 
was this nohleman? The hills at Nazareth, down which they would 
have cast Jesus ? Denunciation against Capernaum ? 



366 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

has this word been fulfilled upon this doomed citjj that 
the very site of it is unknown. 

North of Tiberias, and about midway of the coast, the 
hills retire in a kind of arch, and form a small triangu- 
lar plain, four miles in length, and two in breadth at the 
widest part, of great beauty and fertility. This is the 
ancient land of Gennesaret (Mark vi: 53), in which 
Dr. Robinson supposes the lost city to have been lo- 
cated. 

This plain Josephus describes as one of surpassing 
loveliness and fertility, and modern travellers concur in 
attesting the truth of the representation : — 

'^ The country named Gennesar extends along the 
lake, wonderful both for its nature and beauty. On 
account of its fertility, it refuses no tree, and the culti- 
vators plant in it all kinds of trees ; and the tempera- 
ture of the atmosphere suits the several sorts. For 
walnuts, which require the greatest colds, flourish there 
in vast quantities, and also palm-trees, which require 
heat ; while fig-trees and olives, which require a milder 
atmosphere, grow near them. One may say that it is the 
ambition of nature which forces together the things that 
are naturally enemies to one another; and that there is a 
happy contention of the seasons of the year, as if each 
of them laid claim to this district as its own ; for it not 
only nourishes different sorts of fruits beyond men's 
expectation, but long preserves them. 

"It supplies men with the principal fruits, with 
grapes and figs, during ten months of the year, without 
intermission, and with the rest of the fruits throughout 
the whole year as they ripen in course. And besides 

Land of Gennesaret ? Length and breadth of the plain ? Descrip* 
tion of this plain by Josephus ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 367 

the good temperature of the atmosphere, it is also wa- 
tered from a most fertile fountain, called Capharnaum 
by the natives. Some have thought this fountain to be 
a vein of the Nile, because it produces the Coracine fish, 
like the lake near Alexandria. The length of this coun- 
try extends along the banks of this lake, bearing the 
same name, for thirty stadia, and in breadth it is twenty. 
This, indeed, is the nature of that place." 

Just at the foot of the western hills is this fountain 
Capharnaum, of pure, limpid water, enclosed in a circu- 
lar wall of mason- work, near a hundred feet in diameter. 
From the fountain flows a large stream, to fertilize the 
plain. Here, however, no traces of a town are found, 
but near another fountain, not far from the shore, there 
is a small heap of indiscriminate rubbish, which, it is 
supposed, may mark the site of Capernaum. 

Dr. Wilson dissents from the opinion of Dr. Robin- 
son respecting the locality of Capernaum ; and, perhaps 
with greater probability, supposes it to have been at the 
head of the lake, about five miles west of the Jordan, 
where extensive ruins are found. 

§ 29. The call of Simon Peter and Andrew, and of James and 
John, with the miraculous draught of fishes. — Near Caper* 
NAUM. (Luke V : 1-11 ; Matt, iv : 18-22 ; Mark i : 16-20.) 

§30. Healing of a demoniac in the Synagogue. — Capernaum. 
(Mark i : 21-28 ; Luke iv : 31-37.) 

§ 31. The healing of Peter's wife's mother, and many others. — 
Capernaum. (Matt, viii : 14-17; Mark i: 29-34; Luke iv : 
38-41.) 

§ 32. Jesus with his disciples goes from Capernaum throughout 
Galilee. (Mark i : 35-39 ; Luke iv : 42-44 ; Matt, iv : 23-25.) 

From Matthew we learn that the fame of Jesus had 
already spread through the whole country, Syria, Gali- 

Beautiful fountain ? Second fountain ? Dr. Wilson's opinion 
respecting the site of Capernaum ? 



868 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

lee, Jerusalem, Judea, Perea, and Decapolis. The last 
mentioned appears to have been not a distinct country 
or territory, but a confederation often cities, south and 
south-east of the Sea of Galilee, chiefly inhabited by 
foreigners. Scythopolis was on the west side of Jordan ; 
the others, upon the east, among which were Gadara, 
Hippo, Pella, and Gerasa. They seem not to have been 
under the government of Herod, but subject to a juris- 
diction peculiar to themselves, like the free cities in the 
German states. They afforded, accordingly, a refuge 
from the persecution of Herod. 

§33. The healing of a leper. — Galilee. (Matt, viii : 2-4 j Mark 

i : 40-45 ; Luke v : 12-16.) 
§ 34. The healing of a paralytic. — Capernaum, (Mark ii : 1-12 ; 

Luke v: 17-26; Matt, ix : 2-8.) 
§ 35. The call of Matthew. — Capernaum. (Matt, ix : 9 ; Mark 

ii : 13, 14; Luke v : 27> 28.) 

PART IV.— OUR LORD'S SECOND PASSOVER, AND THE SUBSE- 
QUENT TRANSACTIONS UNTIL THE THIRD. 

Time : Ooie year. 

§ 36. The pool of Bethesda ; the healing of the infirm naan ; and 
our Lord's subsequent discourse. — Jerusalem. (John v : 1-47.) 

§ 37. The disciples pluck ears of grain on the Sabbath. — On the 
WAY TO Galilee. (Matt, xii : 1-8; Mark ii: 23-28; Luke vi: 
1-5.) 

§ 38. The healing of the withered hand on the Sabbath. — Gali- 
lee. (Matt, xii: 9-14; Mark iii : 1-6; Luke vi : 6-11.) 

§ 39. Jesus arrives at the Sea of Tiberias, and is followed by 
- multitudes. — Lake of Galilee. (Matt, xii; 15-21 ; Mark iii : 
7-12.) 

§ 40. Jesus withdraws to the rrrountain, and chooses the Twelve ; 
the multitudes follow him. — Near Capernaum.^ (Mark iii : 13- 
19 ; Luke vi : 12-19 ; Matt, x : 2-4.) 

Decapolis, what ? Where situated ? Government of Decapolis ? 
Protection from persecution ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HASMONY. 369 

§41. The Sermon on the Mount. — Near Capeknaum. (Matt, v: 

1-viii : 1 ; Luke vi : 20-49.) 
§42. The healing of the centurion's servant. — Capernaum. 

(Matt, viii : 5-13 ; Luke vii : 1-10.) 
§43. The raising of the widow's son. — Nain. (Luke vii: 11-17.) 

Nain, the scene of this touching incident, is now a 
small settlement at the foot of Little Hermon, about 
three miles south-by-west from Tabor, and in full view 
from the hills of Nazareth. From Capernaum the dis- 
tan'^.e must be twenty or twenty-five miles. 

§ 44. John the Baptist in prison sends disciples to Jesus. — Gali- 
lee : Capernaum. (Matt, xi : 2-19 ; Luke vii : 18-35.) 

If, as is generally supposed, John was imprisoned in 
the castle of Machserus, east of the Dead Sea, his dis- 
ciples must have made a journey of fifty miles to Jesus 
in Galilee. 

§ 45. Reflections of Jesus on appealing to his mighty works. — 
Capernaum ? (Matt, xi : 20-30.) 

§ 46. While sitting at meat with a Pharisee, Jesus is anointed by 
a woman who had been a sinner. — Capernaum? (Luke vii: 
36-50.) 

§47. Jesus, with the Twelve, makes a second circuit in Galilee. 
(Luke viii : 1-3.) 

§ 48. The healing of a demoniac. The Scribes and Pharisees 
blaspheme. — Galilee. (Mark iii : 19-30; Matt, xii: 22-37; 
Lukexi: 14, 15, 17-23.) 

§ 49. The Scribes and Pharisees seek a sign. Our Lord's reflec- 
tions. — Galilee. (Matt, xii : 38-45 ; Luke xi : 16, 24-36.) 

§ 50. The true disciples of Christ his nearest relatives. — Galilee. 
(Matt, xii : 46-50 ; Mark iii : 31-35 ; Luke viii : 19-21.) 

§ 51. At a Pharisee's table, Jesus denounces w^oes against the 
Pharisees and others. — Galilee. (Luke xi: 37-54.) 

§ 52. Jesus discourses to his disciples and the multitude. — Gali- 
lee. (Luke xii : 1-59.) 

Situation of Nain ? Present condition ? Distance from Caper- 
naum and Nazareth ? Journey of John's disciples to Jesus in Gali- 
lee ? 

24 



370 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

§ 53. The slaughter of certain Galileans. Parable of the barren 
fig-tree. — Galilee. (Liikexiii: 1-9.) 

§ 54. Parable of the Sower. — Lake of Galilee : Near Caper- 
naum ? (Matt, xiii : 1-23 ; Mark iv : 1-25 ; Luke viii : 4-18.) 

§ 55. Parable of the tares. Other parables.— Near Capernaum ? 
(Matt, xiii : 24-53 ; Mark iv : 26-34.) 

§ 56. Jesus directs to cross the lake. Incidents. The tempest 
stilled. — Lake of Galilee. (Matt, viii : 18-27 ; Mark iv : 35- 
41 ; Luke viii : 22-25 ; ix ; 57-62.) 

SEA OF GALILEE, OR TIBERIAS. 

The Sea of Tiberias, the scene of so many incidents 
connected with our Lord's ministry, is a wide expanse 
of the Jordan, in a deep valley encircled by mountains, 
which usually rise from the water's edge by steep ac- 
clivities until they reach the height of a thousand or 
twelve hundred feet, except in the north-west, where 
the hills are lower and more broken. Occasionally 
they recede a little from the shore, and form small 
plains of extreme fertility. The lake is about twelve 
miles long and five broad ; the waters are pure and 
limpid, and abound with fish^ as in the time of our 
Saviour. 

From its position betw^een high hills, it is exposed to 
sudden gusts of wind, as in the case before us. There 
was, at the last accounts, but a single boat upon the 
lake. 

The rocks are limestone ; and the whole region vol- 
canic. Near Tiberias, on the south-west shore of the 
lake, are several hot springs, and on the opposite side 
several others, at a short distance from the shore. The 
opinion has been advanced, that the lake itself occupies 

Dimensions of the Sea of Tiberias ? Coast and mountains around 
it ? Fish in the lake ? Tempests on it ? Volcanic indications ? 
Hot springs on the west side ? On the east ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 371 

the crater of an extinct volcano. According to the 
measurement of Lieutenant Symonds, the surface of the 
lake is 328.98 feet below the level of the Mediterra- 
nean. 

Tiberias (John vi: 23), already mentioned, is the 
only town on the lake. This city, renowned in history, 
and built by Herod, is now mostly in ruins, and inha- 
bited by some two thousand Greek Christians and Jews. 
Dr. Olin describes it as the most wretched of all the 
towns he ever beheld. 

The scenery of the lake has not the stern and awful 
features of the Dead Sea, but is more rich in hallowed 
associations, and more attractive in the softened beau- 
ties of the landscape. The view of it from the western 
heights breaks upon the approaching traveller with 
singular power. 

<^ We were upon the brow of w^hat must appear to 
a spectator at its base a lofty mountain, which bounds 
the deep basin of the Sea of Galilee, and forms the last 
step in the descent from the very elevated plain over 
which we had journeyed during the long day. 

" The sun had just set behind us in a blaze of red 
light, w^hich filled the w^estern sky for many degrees 
above the horizon, and was slightly reflected from the 
smooth, glassy surface of the beautiful lake, whose 
opposite shore was visible for many miles on the right 
and left, rising abruptly out of the water into an im- 
mense and continuous bulw^ark, several hundred feet in 
height, grand and massive, but softened by graceful 

Tiberias, where ? By whom built ? Present inhabitants ? Popu- 
lation ? Condition ? Depression below the Mediterranean ? Con- 
trast with the Dead Sea ? View of it from the western hills ? Sunset 
view of the lake ? Eastern shore ? Height of the mountains ? 



372 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

undulations, and covered with a carpet of luxuriant 
vegetation, from the summit quite down to the water's 
edge. 

'<• Beyond the lake stretched out a vast, and, to our 
eyes, a boundless region, filled up with a countless 
number of beautiful rounded hills, all clad in verdure, 
which, at this moment, was invested with a peculiar 
richness of colouring. In the remote distance, though 
full in our view, the snowy top of Mount Hermon was 
still glittering and basking in the beams of the sun, 
while a chaste, cool drapery of white, fleecy clouds 
hung around its base. 

<' The green, graceful form of Mount Tabor rose be- 
hind us, while over the broad and well-cultivated plain, 
the numerous fields of wheat, now of a dark, luxuriant 
green, contrasted very strongly and strangely with in- 
tervening tracts of red, freshly-ploughed ground. Inde- 
pendent of sacred associations, this was altogether a 
scene of rare and unique beauty — nay, of splendid 
magnificence."* 

The picturesque beauties of this charming scenery 
frequently attracted the admiring gaze of this traveller 
as he reluctantly retired on his way to Safet : — 

'' The sea is almost continually in sight, and the dif- 
ferent elevations and ever-shifting points of view from 
which it was seen, gave to this lovely expanse of water 
reposing in its deep bed, lustrous and glittering in the 
sunbeams like molten silver, an endless variety of inte- 
resting forms and aspects. 

Region beyond ? Direction and appearance of Mount Hermon ? 
Of Mount Tabor ? Distant and diversified views of the lake ? Sa- 
cred associations ? 

* Dr. Olin, vol. ii. 388, 389. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 873 

«c I thought some of these views the most exquisitely 
beautiful of any I had enjoyed of this deeply interesting 
region, but perhaps it was because they were parting 
views of a region so honoured and hallowed by the 
presence and ministry of the adorable Saviour. My 
eye rested upon the ^ Sea of Galilee,' the ' coast of 
Magdala,' and the Uand of Gennesaret :' upon the site 
of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum-—' the cities 
where most of his mighty works were done.' It 
« passed over to the other side,' and traced in various 
directions across the shining lake the probable track of 
' the little ships' in which he ' went about doing good,' 
and that along which he came to his disciples, ' walk- 
ing on the sea,' and where ' He rebuked the winds and 
the sea, and there was a great calm.' Surely no region 
on earth but Jerusalem and its environs alone is richer 
in affecting associations ; and I felt now as I did upon 
bidding adieu to the holy city — saddened and quite 
overpowered with the thought that I should commune 
with these endeared scenes no more."^ 

§ 57. The two demoniacs of Gadara.— S. E. coast of the Lake 
OF Galilee. (Matt, viii : 28-34 ; ix : 1 ; Mark v : 1-21 ; Luke 
viii : 26-40.) 

The ruins of Gadara are recognised on a hill some 
five miles south of the lake, and nearly the same dis- 
tance east of Jordan. The remains are extensive, and 
greatly decayed. Not a building is standing ; and only 
the portals of the eastern gate remain entire. Some 
traces of streets are still discernible by the lines of rub- 
bish, and two large theatres. 

Incidents in our Lord's ministry ? Gadara, where ? Ruins ? 
Streets, how discerned ? 

* Dr. Olin, voL ii. 407^ 408. 



374 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

The acclivities of the hill on every side are very 
steep ; and are occupied by many tombs cut in the 
limestone rocks. Some of these tombs are large and 
highly wrought. These tombs are still inhabited as 
they were by these outcast and frantic demoniacs in 
the time of our Saviour. 

'' The accounts given of the habitation of the demo- 
niac from whom the legion of devils was cast out, have 
struck us very forcibly, while we ourselves were wan- 
dering among rugged mountains, and surrounded by 
tombs still used as dwellings by individuals and whole 
families. 

^' A finer subject for the masterly expression of the 
passions of madness in all their violence, contrasted 
with the serenity of virtue and benevolence in him who 
went about doing good, could hardly be chosen for the 
pencil of the artist. A faithful delineation of the wild 
and rugged majesty of the mountain scenery here on 
the one hand, contrasted with the still calm of the 
waters of the lake on the other, w^ould give an addi- 
tional charm to the picture." 

One of the ancient tombs, at the time of the visit of 
Mr. Buckingham, from whom the above extract is 
taken, was occupied as a carpenter's shop. A perfect 
sarcophagus remained within, which was used by the 
family as a provision chest. 

§58. Levi's feast. — Capernaum. (Matt, ix: 10-17; Mark ii: 

15-22; Luke v: 29-39.) 
§ 59. The raising of Jairus's daughter. The woman with a bloody 

flux.— Capernaum. (Matt, ix : 18-26 ; Mark v : 22-43 ; Luke 

viii : 41-56. 

Tombs found there ? Used as dwelling-places ? Fine subject for 
a painting ? Sarcophagus ? 



I 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 375 

§ 60. Two blind men healed, and a dumb spirit cast out.— Caper- 

NAXTM? (Matt, ix : 27-34.) 
§61. Jesus again at Nazareth, and again rejected. (Matt, xiii: 

54-58 ; Mark vi : 1-6.) 
^ 62. A third circuit in Galilee. The Twelve instructed and sent 

forth. — Galilee. (Matt, ix ; 35-38; x: 1,5-42; xi : 1 ; Mark 

vi: 6-13 ; Luke ix : 1-6.) 
§ 63. Herod holds Jesus to be John the Baptist, whom he had just 

before beheaded. — Galilee? Perea. (Matt, xiv : 1,2, 6-12; 

Mark vi : 14-16, 21-29 ; Luke ix : 7-9.) 

John had been imprisoned some time before the 
second Passover of our Lord's ministry : it was now 
near the third Passover : so that he had lain in prison 
more than a year, in the castle of Machserus. Jose- 
phus relates the circumstances of John's imprisonment 
and death, but only says that Machserus was on the 
confines of Perea and Arabia. 

§ 64. The Twelve return, and Jesus retires with them across the 
Lake. Five thousand are fed. — Capernaum. N. E. coast of 
the Lake of Galilee. (Mark vi: 30-44; Luke ix : 10-17; 
Matt, xiv: 13-21 ; John vi : 1-14.) 

Near the northern extremity of the lake there were 
two towns of the name of Bethsaida ; one in the neigh- 
bourhood of Capernaum and Chorazin, on the west side 
of the lake ; the other, on the eastern shore. The 
former, the city of Andrew and Peter, involved in the 
doom of Chorazin and Capernaum, is irrecoverably 
lost; the latter, mentioned Luke ix: 10, near which 
Jesus fed the five thousand, was enlarged by Philip 
the tetrarch. The ruins of it are just beyond a small 
plain of surpassing fertility, at the distance of a little 
more than an hour beyond the Jordan where it enters 
into the lake. 

Time of John's continuance in prison ? Bethsaida on the west 
of Tiberias ? On the east ? Fertility of the plain ? 



376 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

§ 65. Jesus walks upon the water. — Lake of Galilee. Gennesa- 
RET. (Matt, xiv : 22-36 ; Mark vi : 45-56 ; John vi : 15-21.) 

§ 66. Our Lord's discourse to the multitude in the Synagogue at 
Capernaum. Many disciples turn back. Peter's profession of 
faith.— Capernaum. (John vi: 22-71; vii:l.) 

PART v.— FROM OUR LORD'S THIRD PASSOVER UNTIL HIS FINAL 
DEPARTURE FROM GALILEE AT THE FESTIVAL OF TABER- 
NACLES. 

Time : Six months. 

§ 67. Our Lord justifies his disciples for eating with unwashen 
hands. Pharisaic traditions.— Capernaum. (Matt, xv : 1-20; 
Mark vii : 1-23.) 

§ 68. The daughter of a Syrophoenician w^oman is healed.— Region 
OF Tyke and Zidon. (Matt, xv : 21-28; Mark vii : 24-30.) 

Zidon is the most ancient of all the cities of Phoeni- 
cia. (Gen. X : 19 ; xlix ; 13 ; Comp. Horn. II. vi. 289 ; 
xxiii. 743.) It is about twenty miles north of Tyre, 
and, at present, larger and better built than its ancient 
rival. It stands upon a small promontory, and as seen 
from the north has quite an imposing appearance, as if 
standing in the sea. Its harbour is now poor, and its 
commerce small, but it still contains five or six thousand 
inhabitants. It has beautiful orchards and gardens ; 
and its environs are everywhere covered with a luxuri- 
ant vegetation. 

The celebrated plain of Phoenice begins at some dis- 
tance below^ Tyre, and extends a few miles above 
Zidon. It is a narrow plain between the shore and the 
eastern hills, one or two miles in width. 

Sarepta (Luke iv: 26) is between Tyre and Zidon, 
on a high hill a little distance from the coast; but the 
ancient town w^as probably by the seaside. 

Zidon, situation and direction from Tyre ? Its harbour ? Popu- 
lation ? Plain of Ph(Enice ? Sarepta ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 877 

From Capernaum to Tyre is a journey of thirty-five 
or forty miles. The whole tour through the the coasts 
of Tyre and Zidon would require a circuit perhaps of a 
hundred miles. These cities and the Decapolis were 
without the jurisdiction of Herod- — to escape from 
which, at this time, may have been the object of mak- 
ing this tour. 

§69. A deaf and dumb man healed; also many others. Tout 

thousand are fed. — The Decapolis. (Matt, xv : 29-38 ; Mark 

vii: 31-37; viii : 1-9.) 
§ 70. The Pharisees and Sadducees again require a sign. [See 

§ 49.] — Near Magdala. (Matt, xv : 39 ; xvi : 1-4 ; Mark viii : 

10-12.) 

Magdala, the native place of Mary Magdalene, was 
on the coast about four miles above Tiberias, and at the 
southern extremity of the fertile plain of Gennesaret. 
By Mark (viii : 10) it is called Dalmanutha. Its modern 
name is Mejdal. Dr. Olin describes it as a miserable- 
looking village of thirty or forty huts : — 

'' We stopped to make some inquiries of the pale, 
sickly-looking inhabitants, w^ho resembled the people 
of Jericho in their aspect and bearing. This region 
has, in some respects, a striking resemblance to that 
near the mouth of the Jordan. The thorn of Jericho, 
which I have so fully described, reappears upon this 
plain. A few scattering palm-trees adorn the dreary 
precincts of Tiberias, w^hile the stagnant atmosphere 
and oppressive heat prevailing in this deep valley, are 
probably the chief causes here, as well as at Jericho, 
of the sickliness of the climate. 

«'This poor village, however, possesses a special 

Distance of Tyre and Sidon from Capernaum ? Length of this 
tour? Probahle object of it ? Magdala? City of what woman ? 
Causes of the sickliness of the place ? 



378 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

historical interest. The people of whom we inquired 
its name, called it Mejdal ; and it is evident from the 
name, as well as from its position here, that this is the 
Magdala of the New Testament, and the Migdal of the 
Old. (Josh, xix: 38; Matt, xv: 39.) At the northern 
extremity of this village is a large quadrangular edifice, 
now in a ruinous state. It may have been a khan."^ 

§71. At Magdala Jesus again takes ship and crosses over to the 
north-east coast of the lake. (Matt, xvi : 4-12; Mark viii: 13- 
21.) 

§ 72. Here, at Bethsaida, he heals a blind man. (Mark viii : 22- 
26.) 

§ 73. From thence he journeys north to the region of Caesarea 
Philippi. On their way, Peter again professes his faith in 
Christ. [See § 66.] (Matt, xvi : 13-20 ; Mark viii : 27-30 ; 
Luke ix: 18-21.) 

The course to Csesarea Philippi is along the eastern 
bank of the Jordan, some ten miles, then up the east 
shore of the Lake Huleh (the Waters of Merom), five 
miles or more, and thence along the great marsh, ten or 
twelve miles further north. Caesarea Philippi is at the 
head of one of the principal branches of the Jordan. 
We cannot better introduce this place to the notice of 
the reader than in the graphic description of Rev. Mr. 
Thompson. The modern name of the city is Banias, 
known as Paneas or Panias. 

" The city is securely embosomed among moun- 
tains, which stand around it on the north-west, north, 
east, and south. The platform, or terrace, upon w^hich 
it is built, may be elevated about one hundred feet 
above the extensive plain of which we have already 

Ancient name ? Ruined castle ? Course and distance of Caesarea 
Philippi ? Platform of the city ? 

*Dr. Olin; vol. ii. 403. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 379 

spoken. That part of the city which was within the 
ancient walls, lay directly south of the fountain. The 
stream formed a deep channel along the northern and 
western walls ; and a part of the water was formerly 
carried into the ditch, which protected the eastern w^all, 
and fell into the deep ravine of the mountain torrent, 
Wady el-Kid, on the margin of which the southern wall 
was constructed. 

" Thus the city was surrounded by water, and de- 
fended on all sides by natural ravines, except on the 
east, which was secured by a wide and deep fosse. 
The walls were very thick and solid, and were strength- 
ened by eight castles or towers ; and before the intro- 
duction of artillery, Banias must have been almost 
impregnable. The shape of the city is an irregular 
quadrangle, longest from east to w^est, and widest at 
the eastern end. The whole area is small, not being 
much more than a mile in circumference. 

" The suburbs appear to have been far more exten- 
sive than the city itself. The plain towards the north- 
west, west, and south-west, is covered with columns, 
capitals, and foundations, bearing indubitable testimony 
to the ancient size and magnificence of Banias."* 

^« Eusebius relates that the woman w^ho was cured 
of an issue of blood was a native of this place. Her 
supposed house was still pointed out in the fourth cen- 
tury, when he visited the city.'' 

§ 74. In this region our Lord foretells his own death and resur- 
rection, and the trials of his followers. (Matt, xvi : 21-28; 
Mark viii : 31-38; ix: 1 ; Luke ix: 22-27.) 

Fountain? Walls? Fosse? Shape of the city ? Circumference? 
Suburbs ? Ruins ? 

* Bib. Sacra, 1846, pp. 187, 188. 



380 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

§ 75. Next follows the transfiguration of our Lord, and his subse- 
quent discourse with his disciples. (Matt, xvii: 1-13; Mark 
ix : 2-13 ; Luke ix: 28-36.) 

This '' high mountain," it is supposed, was some 
lofty eminence of Mount Hermon, above Banias. 

§ 76. The next day, on descending from the mount, Jesus heals a 
dumb demoniac. (Matt, xvii: 14-21 ; Mark ix : 14-29 ; Luke 
ix : 37-43.) 

§ 77. Jesus now returns into Galilee, and again foretells his death 
and resurrection. (Matt, xvii : 22, 23 ; Mark ix : 30-32 ; Luke 
ix : 43-45.) ' 

§ 78. At Capernaum he miraculously provides tribute-money. 
(Matt, xvii : 24-27.) 

§ 79. Here the disciples contend who shall be greatest in the 
kingdom of heaven ; and are exhorted to humility, forbearance, 
and brotherly love. (Matt, xviii : 1-35 ; Mark ix : 33-50; Luke 
ix: 46-50.) 

§ 80. The Seventy are instructed and sent out ; probably down 
the valley of the Jordan, and through the populous regions of 
the country beyond Jordan, where our Lord soon followed 
them, and preached. This was the conclusion of his public 
ministry, before going up to Jerusalem for the last time. (Luke 
x:l-16.) 

§81. Jesus now takes his final departure from Galilee, and goes 
up to Jerusalem. On his way he is inhospitably rejected by 
the Samaritans. (John vii : 2-10; Luke xi: 51-56.) 

§ 82. Heals ten lepers in the country of Samaria. (Luke xvii : 
11-19.) 

PART VI.— THE FESTIVAL OF THE TABERNACLES, AND THE 
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS UNTIL OUR LORD'S ARRIVAL AT BE- 
THANY, SIX DAYS BEFORE THE FOURTH PASSOVER. 

Time : Six months^ less six days. 

§ 83. The feast of Tabernacles was held in October, six months 
after the Passover. Jesus had now been absent a year and a 
half from Jerusalem. On this occasion he probably teaches in 
Jerusalem. (John vii: 11-53; viii: 1.) 

Into what region are the Seventy sent out ? Feast of Tabernacles, 
what ? When kept ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 381 

§ 84. Dismisses the woman taken in adultery. (John viii : 2-11.) 
§ 85. Teaches and reproves the unbelieving Jev^^s, and escapes 

out of their hands. (John viii : 12-59.) 
§ 86. Soon after leaving the city occurred his conversation with a 

certain lawyer, in connexion with which he gave the parable 

of the good Samaritan. (Luke x: 25-37.) 
§ 87. On his way he is entertained in Bethany, at the house of 

Martha and Mary. (Luke x: 38-42.) 

Bethany is now a poor village of about twenty fami- 
lies, on the south-eastern declivity of the Mount of 
Olives, in a little valley, and about two miles from 
Jerusalem. 

§ 88. The disciples are again taught how to pray. (Luke xi : 1-13.) 
§ 89. The Seventy return. — Jerusalem ? (Luke x : 17-24.) 
§ 90. A man born blind is healed on the Sabbath. Our Lord's 
subsequent discourses. — Jerusalem. (Johnix: 1-41; x: 1-21.) 
§ 91. In the month of December, Jesus again returns to Jerusa- 
lem to the feast of Dedication, where his instructions give 
offence to the Jews, and he again retires from the city to Betha- 
bara beyond Jordan. (John x: 22-42.) 
§ 92. After remaining here probably a few weeks, he is recalled 

to Bethany, by the sickness of Lazarus. (John xi : 1-46.) 
§ 93. From Bethany, in consequence of the designs of the Sanhe- 
drim against him, our Lord withdraws to a city called Ephraim, 
near the wilderness. (John xi : 47-54.) 

We are indebted to Dr. Robinson for the probable 
recovery of this place, which he identifies with the mo- 
dern Taiyibeh, and the ancient Ephron and Ophrah of 
Benjamin. (Josh, xviii : 23 ; 1 Sam. xiii : 17 ; 2 Chron. 
xiii : 19.) It is on a high hill, fifteen or twenty miles 
north of Jerusalem, and a short distance north of the 
rock Rimmon, to which the remnant of the slaughtered 
tribe of Benjamin fled for defence (Judges xx : 47), and 
a little north-east of Bethel. 

Situation of Bethany ? City of Ephraim ? Distance from Jeru- 
salem ? 



382 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

On the highest point of the hill is an ancient tower, 
"which affords a wide prospect of the wilderness along 
the valley of the Jordan, of the Dead Sea, and of the 
mountains beyond. 

The village is on the slope of a hill, and contains a 
population of about three hundred Christians of the 
Greek church. 

'^ Even to this day the hardy and industrious moun- 
taineers have much intercourse with the valley, and till 
the rich fields and reap the harvests of Jericho. It was 
therefore quite natural and easy for our Lord, from 
this point to cross the valley and the Jordan, and then 
turn his course towards Jericho and Jerusalem ; while 
at the same time he exercised his ministry among the 
cities and villages along the valley and in the eastern 
region." — Eng. Harmony^ p. 187. 

§ 94. Our Lord is accordingly next on the coast of Judea, by the 
further side of Jordan, where he heals an infirm woman on the 
Sabbath. (Matt, xix : 1,2; Mark x : 1 ; Luke xiii : 10-21.) 

§ 95. Passes through the villages teaching and journeying towards 
Jesusalem. (Luke xiii : 22-35.) 

§ 96. In his course he dines with a chief Pharisee on the Sabbath. 
(Luke xiv : 1-24.) 

§ 97. Instructs the multitude what is required of true disciples. 
(Luke xiv : 25-35,) 

§ 98. The parables of the Lost Sheep and of the Prodigal Son fol- 
low in this place. (Luke xv : 1-32.) 

§ 99. Parable of the Unjust Steward. — Perea (Luke xvi : 1-13.) 

§ 100. The Pharisees reproved. Parable of the Rich Man and 
Lazarus. — Perea. (Luke xvi : 14-31.) 

§101. Jesus inculcates forbearance, faith, humility. — Perea. 
(Luke xvii : 1-10.) 

§102. Christ's coming will be sudden. — Perea, (Luke xvii: 
20-37.) 

§ 103. The Importunate Widow. The Pharisee and Publican.— 
(Luke xviii: 1-14.) 



Ancient tower ? Situation of the village ? Population ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 383 

§104. Precepts respecting divorce. — Pekea. (Matt, xix : 3-12 ; 

Mark x : 2-12.) 
§ 105. Little children received and blessed. — Perea. (Matt, xix : 

13-15; Mark x: 13-16; Luke xviii : 15-17.) 
§ 106. The rich young man. Parable of the Labourers in the 

Vineyard. — Perea. (Matt, xix: 16-30; xx : 1-16; Mark x: 

17-31; Luke xviii: 18-30.) 
§ 107. A third time Jesus now foretells his death and resurrec- 
tion.— Perea. [See §§ 74,77.] (Matt, xx : 17-19; Markx: 32- 

34; Luke xviii: 31-34.) 
^108. The ambitious request of James and John. — Perea. (Matt. 

XX : 20-28 ; Mark x : 35-45.) 
§ 109. Our next notice of Jesus is at Jericho, whither he has gone 

on his last return to Jerusalem. Near Jericho he heals two 

blind men. (Matt, xx : 29-34 ; Mark x : 46-52 : Luke xviii : 

35-43; xix: 1.) 
§ 110. Is hospitably entertained by Zaccheus, on which occasion 

he delivers the parable of the Pounds. (Luke xix : 2-28.) 
§ 111. From Jericho he passes to Bethany, on the first day of the 

week before the Passover — the 10th day of the month Nisan, 

April. (John xi : 55-57 ; xii : 1, 9-11.) 

PART VII.— OUR LORD'S PUBLIC ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM, AND 
THE SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS BEFORE THE FOURTH 
PASSOVER. 

Time : Four days. 

§ 112. On the next day after his arrival at Bethany, Monday the 
11th, he makes his public entry into Jerusalem, and returns 
at night to Bethany. (John xii : 12-19 ; Matt, xxi : 1-11, 14-17 ; 
Mark xi : 1-11 ; Luke xix : 29-44.) 

§ 113. Tuesday the 12th, Jesus goes to Jerusalem. On his way 
seeks fruit in vain of the barren fig-tree. Cleanses the temple, 
and again returns to Bethany. (Matt, xxi : 12, 13, 18, 19 ; Mark 
xi : 12-19 ; Luke xix : 45-48 ; xxi : 37-38.) 

§ 114. Wednesday, 13th. Jesus again returns to Jerusalem. On 
the way the fig-tree is observed to be already withered. (Matt. 
xxi : 20-22 ; Mark xi : 20-26.) 

§ 115. In the city the chief priests and scribes question his autho- 
rity. After this he utters the parable of the Two Sons. (Matt. 
xxi : 23-32 ; Mark xi : 27-33 ; Luke xx : 1-8.) 



384 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

§ 116. The parable of the Wicked Husbandman. (Matt, xxi: 33- 

46 ; Mark xii : 1-12 ; Luke xx : 9-19.) 
§ 117. The parable of the Marriage of the King's Son. (Matt, xxii : 

1-14.) 
§ 118. The Pharisees propose to him the insidious question respect- 
ing tribute. (Matt, xxii: 15-22; Mark xii: 13-17; Luke xx : 

20-26.) 
§ 119. The Sadducees also propose an insidious question respecting 

the resurrection. (Matt, xxii : 23-33; Mark xii : 18-27 ; Luke 

XX : 27-40.) 
§ 120. A lawyer questions him respecting the great command- 
ment. (Matt, xxii : 34-40; Mark xii: 28-34.) 
§ 121. Jesus questions the Pharisees respecting Christ. (Matt. 

xxii : 41-46 ; Mark xii : 35-37 ; Luke xx : 41-44.) 
§ 122. Warns his disciples against the Scribes and Pharisees. 

(Mark xii : 38, 39 ; Luke xx : 45, 46 ; Matt, xxiii : 1-12. 
§ 123. Pronounces woes against the Scribes and Pharisees, and 

utters his lamentation over Jerusalem. (Matt, xxiii : 13-39 ; 

Mark xii : 40 ; Luke xx : 47.) 
§ 124. The widow's mite. (Mark xii : 41-44; Luke xxi : 1-4.) 
§ 125. Certain Greeks desire to see Jesus ; a voice from heaven 

proclaims him the Son of God. (John xii : 20-36.) , 
§ 126. Reflections of John upon the unbelief of the Jews, who 

introduces Jesus as speaking. (John xii : 37-50.) 

Our Lord now takes his final leave of the temple, and 
at the same time foretells its future destruction. On 
the Mount of Olives, while on the w^ay to Bethany, four 
of his disciples, expecting in the Messiah an exalted 
temporal prince, who should restore and extend the 
kingdom of the Jews, inquire of Jesus when these things 
should be ? and what the sign of his coming, and of * 
the end of the world ? This inquiry leads him to speak 
at length of his coming, of the destruction of Jerusalem, 
and of the final judgment. This discourse, in our Har- 
mony, is divided into the following sections and heads. 
Our Lord and his disciples still remain on the Mount of 
Olives, having the whole city in full view before them. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 385 

§ 127. Destruction of the temple, and persecution of the disciples. 

(Matt, xxiv: 3-14; Mark xiii : 1-13; Luke xxi : 5-19.) 
§ 128. Sign of his coming to destroy Jerusalem and put an end 

to the Je\yish state and dispensation. (Matt, xxiv : 15-42 ; 

Mark xiii : 14-37 ; Luke xxi : 20-36.) 
§ 129. Final coming at the day of judgment. Duty of watchful- 
ness. Parables of the Ten Virgins and of the Five Talents. 

(Matt, xxiv : 43-51 ; xxv : 1-30.) 
§ 130. Scenes of the judgment day. (Matt, xxv : 31-46.) 
§ 131. When at supper at Bethany, on the evening of this eventful 

day, Judas, filled v^ith sudden resentment at the rebuke of Jesus, 

goes out to concert with the chief priests to betray him. (Matt. 

xxvi : 1-16 ; Mark xiv : 1-11 ; Luke xxii : 1-6 ; John xii : 2-8.) 
§ 132. Thursday, 14th. While at Bethany, Jesus sends two of his 

disciples into the city to make preparations for the Passover. 

(Matt, xxvi: 17-19 ; Mark xiv : 12-16; Luke xxii : 7-13.) 

PART VIIL— THE FOURTH PASSOVER ; OUR LORD'S PASSION, AND 
THE ACCOMPANYING EVENTS UNTIL THE END OF THE JEW- 
ISH SABBATH. 

Time : Two days. 

§ 133. Thursday evening. Jesus returns to Jerusalem to keep the 

Passover with his disciples, when the disciples fall into an 

ambitious strife for pre-eminence. (Matt, xxvi : 20 ; Mark xiv : 

17 ; Luke xxii : 14-18, 24-30.) 
§ 134. Jesus washes the disciples' feet. (John xiii : 1-20.) 
§ 135. Jesus points out the traitor, and Judas withdraws. (Matt. 

xvi : 21-25; Mark xiv: 18-21; Luke xxii : 21-23; John xiii : 

21-25.) 
§ 136. Jesus foretells the fall of Peter, and the dispersion of the 

Twelve. (John xiii: 36-38; Matt, xxvi: 31-35; Mark xiv: 

27-31 ; Luke xxii : 31-38.) 
§ 137. Institutes the Lord's Supper at the close of the Passover. 

(Matt, xxvi: 26-29; Mark xiv: 22-25; Luke xxii: 19-20; 

1 Cor. xi : 23-25.) 
§ 138. Comforts his disciples, and promises the Holy Spirit. (John 

xiv: 1-31. 
§ 139. Declares himself the true vine, and assures his disciples 

that they shall be hated by the world. (John xv : 1-27.) 
. ^140. Forewarns them of persecution, and promises again the 

Holy Spirit. Prayer in the name of Christ. (John xvi : 1-33.) 



386 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

^ 141. Christ offers his final prayer with his disciples. (John xvii : 
1-26.) 

^ 142. After the Supper, Jesus retires at a late hour of the night 
from the city towards the Mount of Olives, and beyond the 
brook Cedron or Kidron, just at the foot of the mount ; he en- 
ters into the garden of Gethsemane, where he sinks to earth in 
a mysterious agony. (Matt, xxvi : 30, 36-40; Mark xiv : 26, 
32-42 ; Luke xxii : 39-46; John xviii: 1.) 

The scene of this agony is forcibly sketched by 
Lamartine : — 

''At the gate of St. Stephen [on the east side of the 
city] the path is turned out of its line by the terraces 
on which formerly stood the temple of Solomon, and 
where now stands the Mosque of Omar ; and a broad 
steep bank descends suddenly to the left, towards the 
bridge which crosses the Cedron, and leads to Geth- 
semane and the Garden of Olives. 

" A low wall of stones, without cement, surrounds 
this field, and eight olive-trees, standing at about 
twenty or thirty paces distance from each other, nearly 
cover it w^ith their shade. These olive-trees are amongst 
the largest of their species I have ever seen : tradition 
makes their age mount to the era of the incarnate God, 
who is said to have chosen them to conceal His divine 
agonies. Their appearance might, if necessary, con- 
firm the tradition which venerates them ; their immense 
roots, as the growth of ages, have lifted up the earth 
and stones. which covered them, and, rising many feet 
above the surface of the soil, offer to the pilgrim natural 
benches upon which he may kneel, or sit down, to col- 
lect the holy thoughts w^hich descend from their silent 
heads. A trunk, knotted, channelled, hollowed, as with 

St. Stephen's gate ? Garden of Gethsemane ? Venerable olive- 
trees? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY, 387 

the deep wrinkles of age, rises like a large pillar over 
these groups of roots; and, as if overwhelmed and 
bowed down by the weight of its days, it inclines to the 
right or left, leaving in a pendent position its large, in- 
terlaced, but once horizontal branches, which the axe 
has a hundred times shortened to restore their youth. 

<< I admired the divine predestination of this spot for 
the most mournful scene of the Saviour's passion. It 
was a deep and narrow valley ; enclosed on the north 
by dark and barren heights, which contained the sepul- 
chres of kings ; shaded on the west by the heavy and 
gigantic walls of a city of iniquities ; covered at the 
east by the summit of the Mount of Olives, and crossed 
by a torrent which rolled its bitter and yellow waves 
over the broken rocks of the Valley of Jehoshaphat. At 
some paces' distance a black and bare rock detaches 
itself like a promontory from the base of the mountain, 
and, suspended over Cedron and the valley, bears seve- 
ral old tombs of kings and patriarchs, formed in gigantic 
and singular architecture, and strides like the bridge of 
death over the valley of lamentations. 

^f At that period, no doubt, the sloping sides of the 
Mount of Olives, now nearly bare, were watered by 
brooks from the pools, and by the still running stream 
of Cedron. Gardens of pomegranates, oranges, and 
olives, covered with a thicker shade the Valley of Geth- 
semane, which delves like a sanctuary of grief into the 
narrowest and darkest depths of the Valley of Jehosha- 
phat. The man despised and rejected, the man of 
sorrows, might here hide himself like a criminal 

Deep seclusion of Gethsemane ? Ancient tombs ? Divine wis- 
dom in the selection of Gethsemane ? 



388 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

amongst the roots of trees and the rocks of the torrent, 
under the triple shadow of the city, the mountain, and 
the night ; he might hear from hence the secret steps 
of his mother and his disciples as they passed by, seek- 
ing her son and their master; the confused noise, the 
stupid acclamations of the city rising around him to 
rejoice in having vanquished truth and expelled justice; 
and the moans of Cedron rolling its waters under his 
feet, soon destined to behold its city overthrown, and 
its sources broken up in the ruin of a blind and guilty 
nation. Could Christ have chosen a more suitable spot 
for his tears ? could he water with the sw^eat of his 
blood a soil more furrow^ed by miseries, more saturated 
by griefs, more impregnated with lamentations ?'-^^ 

^ 143. A tumultuous rabble, led by Judas the traitor, rush in to 
arrest Jesus, who calmly advances to meet them, and is be- 
trayed with a kiss. (John xviii: 2-12; Matt, xxvi: 47-56; 
Mark xiv : 43-52 ; Luke xxii : 47-53.) 

^ 144. Jesus is led immediately to the house of Caiaphas, who exa- 
mines him while the Sanhedrim assemble. He is now in the 
inner court or quadrangle, around which the house is built. 
There is a fire in the open court of the quadrangle, near which 
Peter is standing when he first denies his Lord. He retreats to 
the passage, or gateway leading to the street, where he again 
denies his Lord ; and, an hour after, denies him the third time ; 
still within the court, and probably near the place of the first 
denial. (Matt, xxvi : 57, 58, 69-75 ; Mark xiv : 53, 54, 66-72 ; 
Luke xxii : 54-62 ; John xviii : 13-18, 25-27.) 

^ 145. Previous to the last denial of Peter the Sanhedrim have 
assembled, while it is yet night, on the morning of Friday the 
15th, and the trial proceeds ; during which our Lord declares 
himself the Christ, and is condemned and mocked. (John xviii : 
19-24; Luke xxii: 63-71; Matt, xxvi: 59-68; Mark xiv : 
55-65.) 

Fitness of Gethsemane for the agony of Jesus ? 

* Lamartine, vol. i. 263-5. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 389 

§ 146. The Sanhedrim lead Jesus away to Pilate. Morning of 
Friday. (Matt, xxvii : 1, 2, 11-14; Mark xv : 1-5; Luke xxiii: 
1-5; John xviii : 28-38.) 

§ 147. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod. (Luke ^xiii : 6-12.) 

§ 148. Pilate seeks to release Jesus. The Jews demand Barahbas. 
(Luke xxiii: 13-25; Matt, xxvii: 15-26; Mark xv : 6-15; 
.John xviii : 39, 40.) 

§ 149. Pilate delivers up Jesus to death, who is scourged and 
mocked. (Matt, xxvii: 26-30; Mark xv : 15-19; John xix : 
1-3.) 

§ 150. He again seeks to release Jesus. (John xix : 4-16.) 

§ 151. As soon as Judas sees that his master is delivered to death, 
he is seized with remorse, and hangs himself. He had hoped, 
perhaps, to enjoy the reward of his treachery without incurring 
the guilt of his master's blood. (Matt, xxvii : 3-10.) 

§ 152. Jesus is led away, about nine o'clock in the morning, to be 
crucified. On his way to Calvary, Jesus bears the cross to 
which he is to be nailed ; but, exhausted by the sufferings to 
which he has been subjected, he sinks beneath the burden, and 
a stranger from Cyrene, a city on the coast of Africa, opposite 
Crete, is compelled to bear the cross. (Matt, xxvii: 31-34; 
Mark XV : 20-23 ; John xix : 16, 17; Luke xxiii : 26-33.) 

§ 153. The Crucifixion; from nine o'clock A. M. to three P. M. 
(Matt, xxvii : 35-38 ; Mark xv : 24-28; Luke xxiii : 33, 34, 38 ; 
John xix : 18-34.) 

Calvary, the place of crucifixion, will probably never 
be identified. All the research which has been em- 
ployed on this locality, has done little else than substi- 
tute some plausible conjecture for the uncertain traditions 
of the church. 

$ 154. Jesus on the cross is mocked by the Jews. He commends 
his mother to John. (Matt, xxvii : 39-44 ; Mark xv : 29-32.) 

$ 155. Darkness prevails over the land from twelve o'clock to 
three P. M., when our Saviour expires. (Matt, xxvii : 45-50; 
Mark xv : 33-37 ; Luke xxiii : 44-46 ; John xix : 28-30.) 

^ 156. At this great event the vail of the temple is rent, the earth 
quakes, many graves are opened, and the Roman centurion, in 
attendance to witness these scenes, exclaims : " Truly this was 
the Son of God." (Matt, xxvii: 51-56; Mark xv : 38-41; 
Luke xxiii : 45, 47-49.) 



390 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

§ 157. It was a custom of the Jews that the bodies of such as 
were publicly executed should be taken down before sunset. 
The body of Jesus is accordingly delivered by request to Joseph 
of Arimathea, who takes care to have it embalmed and laid in a 
new sepulchre near by. Mary Magdalene, and other women, 
who had stood by the cross during the sufferings of their Lord, 
are also attendants at his burial. (John xix: 31-42; Matt, 
xxvii : 57-61 ; Mark xv : 42-47 ; Luke xxiii : 50-56.) 

Arimathea has generally been supposed to be the 
modern town of Ramleh, near Lydda. This supposi- 
tion is refuted by Dr. Robinson, but defended by Von 
Raumer. 

§ 158. The next day, Saturday, 16th, the Sabbath of the Jews, a 
watch is set, and other precautions taken, to prevent imposi« 
tion. (Matt, xxvii : 62-66.) 

PART IX.~OUR LORD'S RESURRECTION, HIS SUBSEQUENT AP- 
PEARANCES, AND HIS ASCENSION. 

Time : Forty days. 

This difficult portion of the gospel history has been 
carefully harmonized by our author. The order of 
events will be best presented in his own words : — 

" The resurrection took place at or before early dawn 
on the first day of the week ; when there was an earth- 
quake, and an angel descended and rolled away the 
stone from the sepulchre and sat upon it ; so that the 
keepers became as dead men from terror. At early 
dawn, the same morning, the women who had attended 
on Jesus, viz. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of 
James, Joanna, Salome, and others, went out with 
spices to the sepulchre in order further to embalm the 
Lord's body. They inquire among themselves, who 
should remove for them the stone which closed the 
sepulchre. On their arrival they find the stone already 



Jesus in the tomb ? Arimathea, where ? 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 391 

rolled away. The Lord had risen. The women, know- 
ing nothing of all that had taken place, were amazed ; 
they enter the tomb, and find not the body of the Lord^ 
and are greatly perplexed. At this time, Mary Mag- 
dalene, impressed with the idea that the body had been 
stolen away, leaves the sepulchre and the other women, 
and runs to the city to tell Peter and John. 

<' The other women remain still in the tomb ; and 
immediately two angels appear, who announce unto 
them that Jesus is risen from the dead, and give them 
a charge in his name for the Apostles. They go out 
quickly from the sepulchre, and proceed in haste to the 
city to make this known to the disciples. On the way 
Jesus meets them, permits them to embrace his feet, 
and renews the same charge to the Apostles. The 
women relate these things to the disciples ; but their 
w^ords seem to them as idle tales, and they believe them 
not. 

"Meantime Peter and John had run to the sepulchre, 
and entering in had found it empty. But the orderly 
arrangement of the grave-clothes, and of the napkin, 
convinced John that the body had not been removed 
either by violence or by friends ; and the germ of a belief 
sprung up in his mind that the Lord had risen. The 
two returned to the city. Mary Magdalene, who had 
again followed them to the sepulchre, remained stand- 
ing and weeping before it ; and looking in she saw two 
angels sitting. Turning around she sees Jesus ; who 
gives to her also a solemn charge for his disciples. 

"The further sequence of events, consisting chiefly 
of our Lord's appearances, presents comparatively few 
difficulties. The various manifestations which the 

The resurrection ? Appearing of Christ ? Order of events ? 



392 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Saviour made of himself to his disciples and others, as 
recorded by the Evangelists and Paul, may accordingly 
be arranged and enumerated as follows : — 

1. To the women returning from the sepulchre. 

Reported only by Matthew. See § 162. 

2. To Mary Magdalene, at the sepulchre. By John 

and Mark. § 164. 

3. To Peter, perhaps early in the afternoon. By 
Luke and Paul. § 166. 

4. To the two disciples going to Emmaus, towards 

evening. By Luke and Mark. § 166. 

5. To the Apostles (except Thomas) assembled at 
evening. By Mark, Luke, John, and Paul. 
§167. 

N. B. These five appearances all took place at 
or near Jerusalem, upon the first day of the 
week, the same day on which the Lord arose. 

6. To the Apostles, Thomas being present, eight 
days afterw^ards at Jerusalem. Only by John. 
§ 168. 

7. To seven of the Apostles on the shore of the Lake 

of Tiberias. Only by John. § 169. 

8. To the eleven Apostles and to five hundred other 
Brethren, on a mountain in Galilee. By Mat- 
thew and Paul. § 170. 

9. To James, probably at Jerusalem. Only by 
Paul. § 171. 

10. To the eleven at Jerusalem, immediately before 
the ascension. By Luke, in Acts, and by Paul. 

§ 171. 
Then follows the ascension. § 172."^ 

Various manifestations of our Lord ? 



Eng. Harmony, pp. 210, 211. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY, 893 

§ 159. The resurrection, on the first day of the week, the Chris- 
tian Sabbath, 17th. (Mark xvi : 1 ; Matt, xxviii : 2-4.) 

§ 160. Visit of the wonaen to the sepulchre. Mary Magdalene 
returns. (Matt, xxviii : 1 ; Mark xvi : 2-4 j Luke xxiv : 1-3 ; 
John XX : 1, 2.) 

§161. Vision of the angels in the sepulchre. (Mark xvi: 5-7; 
Luke xxiv : 4-8 ; Matt, xxviii : 5-7.) 

§ 162. The women return to the city. Jesus meets them. (Matt, 
xxviii : 8-10 ; Mark xvi : 8; Luke xxiv : 9, 11.) 

§ 163. Peter and John run to the sepulchre. (John xx : 3-10 ; 
Luke xxiv : 12.) 

§164. Our Lord is seen by Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre. 
John XX : 11-18; Mark xvi: 9-11.) 

§ 165. Report of the watch. (Matt, xxviii: 11-15.) 

§ 166. Our Lord is seen of Peter. Then by two disciples on the 
way to Emmaus. (1 Cor. xv : 5 ; Luke xxiv : 13-35 ; Mark 
xvi : 12, 13.) 

The position of Emmaus was early lost, and has never 
been recovered. We only know that it was seven or 
eight miles from Jerusalem. 

§ 167. On the evening of the Christian Sabbath, Jesus, while at 
supper in Jerusalem, presents himself to the disciples, with the 
exception of Thomas. (Mark xvi : 14-18 ; Luke xxiv : 36-49 ; 
John XX : 19-23.) 

§ 168. One week from this time Jesus again presents himself to 
the Apostles in Jerusalem, while Thomas also is present. (John 
XX : 24-29.) • 

§ 169. The Apostles now return to Galilee, where Jesus had be- 
fore assured them that he would meet them after his resurrec- 
tion. (Matt, xxvi : 32 ; Mark xiv : 29.) Here he first discovers 
himself to seven of them, at the Sea of Tiberias. (Matt, xxviii : 
16 ; John xxi : 1-24.) 

§ 170. Jesus meets the Apostles and above five hundred Brethren 
on a mountain in Galilee. (Matt, xxviii : 16-20 ; 1 Cor. xv : 6.) 

The final interview of our Lord with his disciples at 
the appointed place, a mountain in Galilee, to us un- 
known, is appropriately introduced to our notice by the 
following remarks of the author of the Harmony : — 

^« The set time had now come; and the eleven dis- 



394 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

ciples went away into the mountain, « where Jesus had 
appointed them.' It would seem probable, that this 
time and place had been appointed by our Lord for a 
solemn and more public interview, not only with the 
eleven whom he had already met more than once, but 
with all his disciples in Galilee ; and that therefore it 
was on this same occasion, when, according to Paul, 
<he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.' 
'' I, therefore, with many leading commentators, do 
not hesitate to regard the interviews thus described by 
Matthew (xxviii: 16-20) and Paul (1 Cor. xv: 5-8), 
as identical. It was a great and solemn occasion. Our 
Lord had directed, that the eleven and all his disciples 
in Galilee should thus be convened upon the mountain. 
It w^as the closing scene of his ministry in Galilee. 
Here his life had been spent. Here most of his mighty 
works had been done, and his discourses held. Here 
his followers were as yet most numerous. He therefore 
here takes leave on earth of those among whom he had 
lived and laboured longest ; and repeats to all his dis- 
ciples in public the solemn charge, which he had al- 
ready given in private to the Apostles : ' Go ye therefore 
and teach all nations ; — and lo, I am with you always, 
even unto the end of the world.' It was doubtless the 
Lord's last interview with his disciples in that region ; 
his last great act in Galilee."* 

§ 171. After this public interview with his disciples and followers, 
Jesus again appears to James at Jerusalem, and then to all the 
Apostles. The language seems indeed to imply that there were 
repeated interviews and communications of which we have no 
specific record. (1 Cor. xv ; 7 ; Acts i : 3-8.) 

, Final interview in Galilee ? 
*Eng. Harmony, pp. 214, 215. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HARMONY. 395 

§ 172. Ascension of Christ. (Luke xxiv : 50-53 ; Mark xvi : 19, 
20 ; Acts i : 9-12.) 

In connexion with this discourse, or soon after it, our 
Lord, with the Apostles, goes out to Bethany, on the 
eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, where he lifts up 
his hands and blesses them ; and, w^hile he blesses 
them, he is parted from them, and carried up into 
heaven, and a cloud receives him out of their sight. 

Amazing scene! His humiliation ended, finished 
now the work that was given him to do, he returns, 
triumphant over death and the grave, to his Throne on 
high. Myriads of attending angels announce, at the 
gates of heaven, the approach of the returning Con- 
queror, their Lord and King. '' Lift up your heads, ye 
gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and 
the King of Glory shall come in.*" And myriads more 
of the heavenly hosts in celestial harmony hail his 
coming. "Who is this King of Glory ? the Lord strong 
and mighty ; the Lord mighty in battle. The Lord of 
hosts, he is the King of Glory !" 

Who can conceive the emotions of the Apostles as they 
gaze in mute astonishment at this amazing scene ! In 
vain they look steadfastly up towards heaven. The 
heaven of heavens has received their Lord and Master 
unto the right hand of God. But two of the heavenly 
host appear, saying : " Ye men of Galilee, why stand 
ye gazing up into heaven ? This same Jesus w^hich is 
taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like 
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." "And 
they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and w^ere 
continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. 
Amen." 



Bethany ? The ascension ? 



396 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



CHAPTER III. 
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 

On the day of Pentecost, a mixed multitude from 
many nations were filled with amazement at hearing 
the Apostles speak in their several native languages : 
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, inhabi- 
tants of Asia Minor, of Crete, of Egypt, and Arabia. 
(Actsii: 9-11.) 

The enumeration begins with the most eastern, the 
Parthians, east of Media ; the Medes, south of the Cas- 
pian Sea, and east of the Euphrates; the Elamites, 
south of Media ; the Mesopotamians, between the Tigris 
and Euphrates. 

Cappadocia and Pontus are north-eastern provinces 
of Asia Minor ; the latter, on the south-east coast of the 
Black Sea ; the former, south-east of Pontus. By Asia, 
Winer and De Wette understand the western part of 
Asia Minor, including Mysia, Lydia, and Caria. East 
of these were Phrygia and Pamphylia. 

Crete, south of the Grecian Archipelago, is a large 
island, a hundred and sixty miles in length, and vary- 
ing in width from six to thirty- five miles. The other 
countries have been the subject of consideration in other 
portions of Scripture history. 

It is an interesting fact that the first Christian church 
out of Jerusalem was planted by Philip in the idolatrous 

Where was Parthia ? Media ? Elam ? Cappadocia ? Pontus ? 
What are we to understand by Asia ? Crete, where and what ? 



C^SAREA. 397 

city of Samaria, within one year after our Lord's pas- 
sion. (Acts viii.) After this he expounds the Scriptures 
to the Ethiopian eunuch, in the country of the Philis- 
tines. Azotus is Ashdod of the Old Testament. 

CiESAREA. 

This city is about thirty-five miles north of Joppa, 
and fifty-five from Jerusalem. It was built by Herod the 
Great, at immense expense. To form a harbour he con- 
structed an extensive mole, or breakwater, sufficient to 
protect a fleet against the storms which rage on this 
inhospitable coast. It was built of large blocks of stone, 
brought from a great distance, and sunk to the depth of 
a hundred and twenty feet. To this stupendous work he 
added a temple, a theatre and amphitheatre, together 
with many splendid buildings, and made it his own 
residence and the capital of Judea. After him it be- 
came the residence of the Roman governors. 

Its present state, and the historical recollections 
associated with it, in connexion with the history of 
the Apostle Paul, are clearly exhibited by Dr. Wil- 
son: — 

" The ruins are very extensive, lying along the shore 
to the north, where there are some remains of aque- 
ducts. The wall of a fort, surrounded by a moat, still 
remains in tolerably good order. This Irby and Mangles 
suppose to be of Saracenic architecture. The ruins 
within it consist of foundations, arches, pillars, and 
great quantities of building material ; but there is no- 
Church at Samaria? By whom planted? 

Situation of Caesarea ? By whom built ? Breakwater ? Design 
of it ? Magnitude of the work ? Other edifices ? Ruins ? 



398 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

thing distinctive about them. Various columns and 
masses of stone are seen lying in the sea close to the 
shore. 

" The only considerable pile of building standing is 
at the southern part of the fort, where travellers enter 
the gate to get a supply of water for themselves and 
cattle. At this place we observed only a solitary human 
being : and there are now not more than one or two 
families of herdsmen occasionally to be found at the 
Roman capital of Judea. Were either the Grecian 
Strato, who first marked the place by his tower, or 
Herod the Great, who built the city in a style of the 
greatest magnificence, and formed the breakwater 
necessary for constituting it a port, to raise his head, 
he would be astonished at the doings of the ruthless 
hand of man, and the still more potent hand of Time, 
the great destroyer. 

" It is mentioned in the New Testament in connexion 
with circumstances and events of great interest. Philip 
preached in all the cities intermediate between Ashdod 
and Caesarea.^ (Acts viii : 40.) The Apostle Paul was 
brought down to it from Jerusalem, on his way to Tar- 
sus, when the brethren were inducing him to escape 
from the violence of the Grecians who had been irritated 
by his reasonings. (Acts ix: 30.) It was the residence 
of Cornelius the centurion, the first Gentile convert. 
(Acts x: 1, &c. ; xi: 11.) It witnessed the judgment 
of God inflicted on Herod Agrippa, when — probably 

Ruins within the fort, what ? Building standing ? Population at 
the present time ? Where did Philip preach ? Who resided here ? 



* A distance along the coast of fifty miles or more. 



MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN. 399 

in the magnificent amphitheatre erected by his father* 
— he was smitten by the angel of God, when glittering 
in the gorgeous display of his royal apparel, and re- 
joicing in the idolatrous plaudits of the maddened mul- 
titude. (Actsxii: 19-23.) 

«' Paul concluded at it his voyage from Ephesus, and 
there saluted the church. (Acts xviii : 22.) This apostle 
made it a landing-place on a similar occasion, when he 
took up his abode for a time with Philip the Evange- 
list. (Acts xxi : 8, 16.) He was sent to it by Claudius 
Lysias to appear before Felix, in whose presence he 
uttered the noble speech which made that governor 
tremble. (Acts xxiii: 24; xxiv.) Here he was im- 
prisoned for two long years, till he was called forth to 
plead his cause before Festus and Agrippa. (Acts xxv : 
26.) From Ca^sarea he sailed to imperial Rome, to 
finish, at that centre of influence and of power, his 
wondrous testimony to the cause of Christ. (Acts 
xxvii: l.)"t 

MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN. 

There is much diffic^^lty in settling the chronology of 
the first few chapters of the history of the Acts of the 
Apostles. Some chronologists assign the date of Ste- 
phen's martyrdom (Acts vii), to the latter part of the 
first year after our Lord's ascension ; others, to the 

Herod Agrippa, how smitten ? Landing-place of Paul ? His 
imprisonment ? 

Date of Stephen's martyrdom ? 

* Grandfather ? Herod Agrippa was a grandson of Herod the 
Great, and son of Aristobulus, who was cruelly put to death by his 
father. 

t Dr. Wilson, vol. ii. 250-2. 



400 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

third or fourth year. The conversion of Paul they sup- 
pose to have occurred only a few months later. 

CONVERSION OF SAUL. 

Damascus was a hundred and fifty miles from Jeru- 
salem ; but some of the early converts, perhaps some 
of the first fruits on the day of Pentecost, may have 
preached Christ at Damascus, and gathered a church 
there. 

It appears that Saul, after his conversion, retired for 
three years into some part of Arabia, east or south-east 
from Damascus. It was after this term of time, which 
Luke passes over in silence, that he was assisted to 
make his escape from Damascus, and conducted to 
Caesarea. 

From thence he returned to his own native city, Tar- 
sus in Cilicia. Here w^e lose sight of this remarkable 
man, the future Apostle of the Gentiles for ten or twelve 
years, (Acts ix.) 

CILICIA. 

Cilicia lies directly west of the north-east angle of 
the Mediterranean Sea. It has fertile plains, but is 
surrounded by high mountains, through w^hich there are 
only narrow passes. Tarsus was a large and populous 
city, distinguished for its schools and learned men, in 
which it ranked with Athens and Alexandria. It was 
therefore «' no mean city." The distance from Caesarea 
to Tarsus may be about three hundred miles. 

Church at Damascus ? Saul at Damascus ? In Arabia ? Escape 
from Damascus ? 

Cilicia? Mountains and plains of Tarsus? Distance from 
Caesarea ? 



4 




THE MISSIOMKT TOUHS 

of th e 



M^®^*!,! 



B 



D 



:e 



3o 



m' 



CITY OF AKTIOCH. 401 

Lydda (Acts ix : 32, 35), is the ancient Lud. Saron 
is the fertile and beautiful plain of Sharon. 

The period of Paul's residence in Cilicia was one of 
tranquillity and prosperity to the church. The disciples 
that had been dispersed at the persecution of Stephen, 
went everywhere, preaching the doctrines of Christ; 
and when the historian again introduces Paul to our 
notice, A. D. 43, he informs us that they had already 
travelled to Phoenice, Antioch, and Cyprus. 

THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS. 

Cyprus is a large, beautiful, and fertile island, a 
hundred and forty miles in length and fifty in width, 
which, however, varies greatly in different places. It 
is capable of sustaining a large population ; but has at 
present comparatively few inhabitants, 

PHGENICIA. 

Phoenice, or Phoenicia, lies on the western declivity 
of Lebanon, and the coast of the Mediterranean, ex- 
tending from near Mount Carmel, below Tyre, north- 
w^ard beyond Zidon and Beirut. It comprises about 
two degrees of latitude. 

CITY OF ANTIOCH. 

Antioch is near the northern extremity of Syria, above 
Phoenicia, and three hundred miles north of Jerusalem. 
It was a large and populous city, containing a hundred 
and fifty or two hundred thousand inhabitants. It was 

Lydda ? Saron ? Result of the dispersion of the disciples ? 
Cyprus ? Length and breadth ? Fertility ? Population ? 
Phoenicia ? Extent ? What latitudes does it comprise ? 
Situation of Antioch ? Distance from Jerusalem ? Population ? 
Separate townships ? 
26 



402 HISTOKICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

divided into four townships, each enclosed by a separate 
wall, and the four by a common wall. 

Its suburb, Daphne, celebrated for its grove and its 
fountains, its asylum and temple, was a vast forest '^ of 
laurels and cypresses, which reached as far as a cir- 
cumference of ten miles, and formed, in the most sultry 
summers, an impenetrable shade. A thousand streams 
of the purest water, issuing from every hill, preserved 
the verdure of the earth and the temperature of the air." 

Antioch was celebrated for its refinements in the 
arts,. and the cultivation of literature and philosophy. 
Cicero describes it as distinguished for its learned men, 
and the cultivation of the fine arts."^ It was the birth- 
place of Chrysostom, and the scene of his labours until 
his transfer to Constantinople. To this luxurious, dis- 
solute, and idolatrous city, Paul, by request of Barnabas, 
directed his attention, and made it for many years the 
centre of his missionary operations. 

Few cities have survived greater vicissitudes of war, 
pestilence, and earthquakes, than Antioch. No less 
than two hundred and fifty thousand are said to have 
been destroyed in the sixth century by an earthquake ; 
the city being at the time thronged by multitudes who 
had gathered there to a festival. 

On the south-west side of the town is a precipitous 
mountain ridge, on which a considerable portion of the 
old Roman wall of Antioch is still standing, from thirty 
to fifty feet in height, and fifteen in thickness. At short 
intervals four hundred high square towers are built up 

Daphne ? Extent and beauty ? Celebrity of Antioch ? Chrysos- 
toni ? Earthquakes ? Roman wall ? Towers ? 



* Loco nobili et celebri quondam urbe et copiosa^ atque eruditiosi 
hominibus liberalissimisque studiis aflluente. 



FIRST MISSIONARY TOUR OF PAUL. 403 

in it, each containing a staircase and two or three cham- 
bers, probably for the use of the soldiers on duty. At the 
east end of the western hill are the remains of a fortress, 
with its turrets, vaults, and cisterns. Its present popu- 
lation may be fifteen or twenty thousand. 

FIRST MISSIONARY TOUR OF PAUL. 

After the lapse of ten or twelve years, Paul appears 
in history at Antioch, whither he had come by personal 
invitation of Barnabas, A. D. 43. (Acts xi : 25.) 

Their visit to Jerusalem, the martyrdom of James, 
the imprisonment and enlargement of Peter, and the 
death of Herod Agrippa (Acts ii : 27-30 ; xii.), are re- 
ferred to the following year, A. D. 44. 

The same year Paul and Barnabas go out on their 
first mission, accompanied by John Mark. (Acts xiii, 
xiv.) Seleucia, from whence they set sail, is the port 
of Antioch, at the mouth of the Orontes. 

Directing their course to Cyprus, the native place of 
Barnabas, they land at Salamis, on the eastern coast 
of the island, and travel through the length of it to 
Paphos, on the western coast, where occurred the inci- 
dents related of Sergius Paulus and Elymas the 
sorcerer. 

From thence Paul proceeds north-west to Perga, in 
Pamphylia, a province which joins Cilicia on the west. 

Without lingering here, he proceeds north into the 
interior to Antioch in Pisidia, a distance of eighty or 

ninety miles. Here are still found the remains of se- 

-i , 

Fortress ? Present population ? 

Date of Paul's first tour ? His companion ? Seleucia ? Salamis 
in Cyprus ? Paphos ? Incidents at this place ? Perga ? Artioch 
in Pisidia ? Ruins of this city ? 



404 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

veral churches and temples, besides a theatre, and a 
magnificent aqueduct, of which twenty-one arches still 
remain in a perfect state. Here the Apostle met with 
great success among the proselyte Gentiles, but was 
expelled from the city by the Jews. 

We next find him at Iconium, seventy-five or eighty 
miles east-by-south from Antioch, and about a hundred 
and twenty miles in the interior from the coast of the 
Mediterranean. It is now a walled tow^n, inhabited by 
Moslems, and situated at the foot of Taurus, in a fertile 
plain ; rich in valuable productions, particularly in 
apricots, wine, cotton, flax, and grain. It carries on a 
considerable trade with Smyrna, by means of caravans. 

Driven from this place, after having preached for 
some time with great success, Paul and Barnabas flee to 
Lystra and Derbe. The former is supposed to have 
been thirty or forty miles south of Iconium, and the 
latter fifteen or twenty miles east of Lystra (Acts xiv : 
19, 20) ; but the sites of these towns have not been 
recovered. 

'^ Nothing can more strongly show the little progress 
that has hitherto been made in a knowledge of the an- 
cient geography of Asia Minor, than that of the cities 
which the journey of St. Paul has made so interesting 
to us. The site of only one, Iconium, is yet certainly 
known." Timothy was a native of Lystra (Acts xvi: 
12; 2 Tim. iii: 11), and Gains, the friend and fellow- 
traveller of Paul, was a native of Derbe (Acts xx : 4), 

The Apostle now retraces his tour through Lystra, 
Iconium, Antioch, and Perga ; and from thence goes to 

Success of the Apostle ? Iconium, where ? Present state of 
trade ? Lystra ? Derbe ? Native place of Timothy ? Of Gaius ? 



SECOND MISSIONARY TOUK. 405 

Attalia, about twenty miles west of Perga. The river 
Caractes falls with a great noise into the sea at this 
place. The town is composed of three parts, extending 
from the shore to the heights above. It is surrounded 
by a fertile district ; but the heat is so insupportable in 
summer that most of the inhabitants remove during that 
season to the neighbouring mountains. At this place 
the Apostle, after having travelled by land and sea 
twelve or fourteen hundred miles, embarked for Antioch 
in Syria, at which place he arrived after an absence 
perhaps of a year and a half. Autumn ? A. D. 45. 

SECOND MISSIONARY TOUR. 

After some time spent with the church at Antioch, 
Paul and Barnabas proposed to visit again the churches 
which they had established at their first mission. The 
interval which had elapsed since their first mission is 
estimated, by different chronologists, at from two to four 
years. 

During this time they had together visited the church 
at Jerusalem, in consequence of the dissensions which 
sprang up at the church in Antioch, respecting the cir- 
cumcision of Gentile converts. (Acts xv.) Our chro- 
nologist (Ordo Saeclorum, p. 126), assigns the council 
at Jerusalem to the end of A. D. 47 or beginning of 48 ; 
and the departure of Paul on this second missionary 
tour to the spring following. 

Attaiia, where ? By what river ? Parts of the town ? Extreme 
heat ? Return of the Apostle ? Length of the tour ? Time occu- 
pied in it ? 

Interval between the first and second tour? How occupied? 
Dissension at Antioch ? Council at Jerusalem ? On what occa- 
sion ? 



406 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

After the unhappy and unworthy dissension between 
Paul and his early friend and faithful associate (Acts 
XV : 36-41), he took with him Silas, who had come with 
them from Jerusalem as a delegate to the church at 
Antioch, and with this fellow-labourer proceeded on 
his w^ay, journeying by land around the north-east 
coast of the Mediterranean though his native country, 
Cilicia, to Derbe and Lystra, where Timothy joins him. 

After visiting his former churches, he directs his 
course into Phrygia, a large and populous province in 
the central part of Asia Minor, extending north and 
west from Iconium. 

North of Phrygia lies Galatia, into which Paul also 
extends his labours; and here, according to Neander, 
he enjoyed that remarkable rapture, accompanied with 
the " thorn in the flesh," to which he refers in his Se- 
cond Epistle to the Corinthians, xii: 1-10. 

At Galatia, new fields of labour opened to the Apostle, 
on the right hand and on the left. But he was diverted 
by the Spirit of God from going, on the one hand, either 
south into Proconsular Asia, the province of which w^e 
have already spoken ; or, on the other, north into Bithy- 
nia, towards the shores of the Black Sea. 

Passing, therefore, by a circuitous course, around 
Mysia, lying west of Phrygia, and visiting in his route 
the cities of Philadelphia, Sardis, and Thyatira, the 
Apostle came to Troas, fifteen or twenty miles south of 
ancient Troy. 

Dissension between Paul and Barnabas ? Companion of Paul in 
his second tour ? Route pursued ? Joined by Timothy, where ? 
Situation of Phrygia ? Of Galatia ? Rapture of Paul ? New fields 
of labour ? On the south, what province ? What on the north ? 
Circuitous route around Mysia? Through what cities? Where 
was Troas? Bearings from Troy ? 



SECOND MISSIONARY TOUR. 407 

The town itself was situated on an eminence opposite 
the island of Tenedos. The ruins of the place are now 
concealed in a thick wood of oak, with which the coun- 
try abounds. The soil of this region is excellent, but it 
is poorly cultivated ; and only a few miserable villages 
are thinly scattered over it. 

At Troas the Apostle met with Luke, the physician, 
author of this history of the Acts of the Apostles, and 
future companion of Paul in his travels. 

Here, warned by a vision, the Ap'ostle sets sail for 
Macedonia, on the opposite side of the ^gean Sea. He 
first touched at Samothrace, a small island in the 
northern part of the iEgean Sea, distinguished by a high 
mountain, described in the Missionary Herald for 1836, 
p. 246. There is now but a single village upon the 
island. 

From thence, by a north-westerly course, he sailed 
to Neapolis, and passed down the coast a short distance 
to Philippi. This city occupies a fertile plain between 
two ridges of mountains. The Acropolis is upon a mount 
standing out into the plain from the north-east. The 
city seems to have extended from the base of it for some 
distance to the south and south-west. The remains of 
the fortress upon the top consist of three ruined towers, 
and considerable portions of walls of stone, brick, and 
very hard mortar. The plain below exhibits nothing 
but ruins — heaps of stone and rubbish, overgrown with 
thorns and briars ; but nothing is seen of the innumera- 

Ruins here concealed ? Soil ? Cultivation ? Luke, occupation ? 
Future relations ? His writings ? Vision of the Apostle ? Mace- 
<donia, where ? Sea intervening? Samothrace, where ? How in- 
habited ? Course to Neapolis ? Thence to Philippi ? Site of the 
«ity ? Plain and mountains ? Fortress ? Ruins lost ? 



408 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

ble busts and statues 5 and thousands of columns, and 
vast masses of classic ruins, of which earlier travellers 
speak. 

Ruins of private dwellings are still visible ; also 
something of a semicircular shape, probably a forum or 
market-place, perhaps the one where Paul and Silas 
received their undeserved stripes. 

There is particularly worthy of notice an ancient 
palace, the architecture of which is grand, and the ma- 
terials costly. The pilasters, chapiters, &c., are of the 
finest white marble ; and the walls w^ere formerly en- 
cased in the same stone. The marble blocks are gradu- 
ally knocked down by the 1 urks and wrought into their 
silly grave-stones. Many of the ruins of the tow^n are 
said to be covered at present with stagnant water.* 

In this city of ancient Thrace, Paul encountered 
various vicissitudes of his missionary life. The conver- 
sion of Lydia, the silencing of the sorceress, the uproar 
in the city, the scourging of Paul and Silas, their im- 
prisonment, the miraculous opening of the prison doors, 
and the conversion and baptism of the jailer (iVcts xvi : 
9-40), are detailed by the historian. But the result was 
the establishment of a church, remarkable, above all 
others founded by the Apostle, for purity of doctrine 
and fidelity to Christ. To this church he addressed one 
of his epistles. 

From Philippi to Thessalonica, the Apostle passed 
down the coast through Amphipolis and ApoUonia. 



Private dwellings ? Forum or market-place ? Ancient palace? 
Various incidents? Character of the church established there? 
Amphipolis? ApoUonia? 



* See Miss. Herald for 1834, from which this account is taken. 



SECOND MISSIONARY TOUR. 409 

The former, especially, was at this time a large com- 
mercial city. Both are now in ruins. They are about 
thirty miles apart ; and at equal distances between 
Philippi and Thessalonica. 

Thessalonica is on the coast, near a hundred miles 
from Philippi, and perhaps four hundred from Constan- 
tinople. At that time it was rich and populous, and 
is still a city of sixty or seventy thousand inhabitants. 
It stands on the steep declivity of a hill, and presents 
an imposing appearance, which is not sustained by a 
nearer examination. 

Paul and Silas continued here three or four weeks, 
preaching not merely in a synagogue of the Jews on the 
Sabbath, but teaching daily from house to house. (1 
Thess. ii: 9-11.) The result df this ministry was the 
conversion of many devout Greeks and honourable 
women, until a persecution arose from the Jews which 
endangered the lives of Paul and Silas. They were se- 
cretly conducted out of the city, and passed on along 
the coast to the south, fifty miles or more, to Berea. 

The Apostle commends the Jews of this place for 
their candour and ingenuousness above that'of the Jews 
of Thessalonica, because they daily searched the Scrip- 
tures to test the truth of his doctrine. But persecution, 
raised by some Jews who followed him from Thessa- 
lonica, compelled him soon to withdraw from the place. 
Leaving Silas and Timothy behind (Acts xvii: 10-16), 
he proceeded to Athens. 

Distance and bearing of Thessalonica? Fronn Philippi and Con- 
stantinople ? Site of the city ? Population ? Continuance of the 
Apostle's mission to this place ? Converts ? Persecution from 
whom ? Secret escape ? Distance and bearing of Berea ? Character 
of the Bereans ? Persecution how excited ? 



410 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

PAUL AT ATHENS. 

The Apostle, surrounded by statues and altars and 
temples, could not resist the impulse of his spirit to 
declare the doctrine of the living God ; and without 
waiting for the arrival of Silas and Timothy, proceeded 
not only to preach in the synagogue, but to hold daily 
conversations in the market-places with the crowd of 
idlers who gathered there to hear and discuss the current 
news of the day.* By the groups whom he gathered 
here he was led to the renowned Areopagus, whom he 
addressed, standing in the midst of Mars-Hill, a few 
rods west of the noble Acropolis of Athens. 

This Acropolis is a high, rocky, and precipitous ram- 
part, which rises immediately out of the plain of the 
city, on the summit of which were crowded together 
those noble structures, which have ever been admired 
as the most perfect models of Athenian' taste and skill. 
Here, before the lofty Parthenon, surrounded by these 
proud temples, and standing almost in the very foot- 
prints of the great Athenian orator, he delivered, before 
the renowned sages of Athens, that discourse which 
stands unrivalled as an example of Christian oratory. 
(Acts xvii : 16-34.) 

The customary place for public assemblies and popu- 

Preaching of Paul in the synagogue and market-places ? Led to 
the Areopagus ? Situation of Mars-Hill ? Acropolis of Athens ? 
Structures upon it? Circumstances under which Paul delivers his 
discourse ? The Pnyx ? 

* Demosthenes himself reproaches his countrymen for this inquisi- 
tive, gossiping disposition, with his characteristic severity : E//£r<r Se 
ovSev TTotovvTCS tvda^e KadrifxeBa Kai irvvdavoixevoi Kara Tr}v dyopavj ei tl Xeysrai 

V£(i)T€pOV. - 



PAUL AT ATHENS. 411 

lar harangues was the Pnyx op the Acropolis, at a 
short distance east of Mars-Hill. 

The Pnyx was an extensive terrace cut out of the 
rocks in the shape of a semicircle, the arch of which is 
a terrace wall of huge polygonal rocks. The whole forms 
an amphitheatre so gigantic, that it can be compared to 
nothing but the fabled walls which tradition ascribes to 
the Cyclops themselves. 

This remarkable plaQ^ was the assembly hall of the 
Athenians in the most glorious times of the republic. It 
was the central point of all Greece, where were deli- 
vered those master-pieces of eloquence which have 
delighted all* succeeding ages. The semicircle con- 
tained an area of more than twelve thousand square 
yards, a space sufficient to accommodate the whole 
civic population of Athens, eight or ten thousand citi- 
zens. 

The chord of the semicircle which we have described 
was a bare wall of rock. An immense rectangular 
block projected in front of it, hewn away from the 
wall. Two staircases of stone led up from the platform 
below to this place. 

This was the celebrated rostrum from which the 
thunders of the eloquence of Demosthenes sounded out 
to the assembled Athenians in front. Connected as this 
spot is with the richest classic associations, it is at pre- 
sent one of the most sublime on earth ; and, in the time 
of the great orator, with the sky of Attica above, the 
monuments of Athenian wealth and art on every side, 
and the sea of Attica glistening in the distance, it pre- 

How constructed ? Assemblies there ? Extent of the accommo- 
dations ? Venerated for what ? Platform of the orator ? Scenery 
and associations ? 



412 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

sented the noblest materials for the inspiration of elo- 
quence. 

Mars-Hill, situated at a short distance west of the 
Acropolis, is another place of great interest to most 
classic as well as Christian pilgrims. A roughly hewn 
staircase of sixteen steps, leading up the hill on the 
north-eastern slope, presents the way of ascent A 
bench in the form of an immense triclinium is exca- 
vated out of the rock ; and the holes are still seen, in 
which were fastened ancient arm-chairs, several of 
which have been preserved in the cathedral church and 
in the house of the archbishop. 

In the legislation of Solon, in the sixth century before 
the Christian era, this court exerted a most beneficial 
influence on the government of the state. Pericles 
deprived it of its weight in the decisions of the stormy 
democracy ; but through the brightest ages of the com- 
monwealth, the energy and high moral influence of this 
venerable tribunal was almost unlimited. Such w^as 
the renowned assembly before whom the Apostle set 
forth in a masterly manner the doctrine of the great God 
our Saviour, instead of the unknown god whom they 
ignorantly worshiped. 

Such was Paul's anxiety for his new converts in 
Macedonia, that he consented to remain alone at Athens, 
that Silas might minister to the Bereans, and Timothy 
to the Thessalonians. From Athens, the Apostle pro- 
ceeded alone to Corinth, where he continued from one 
and a half to two years. 

Corinth, distinguished also for the cultivation of the 

Situation of Mars-Hill ? Ascent to it ? Ancient chairs of the 
Areopagus ? Antiquity of this tribunal ? Influence of it ? Silas at 
Berea ? Timothy at Thessalonica ? Paul at Corinth ? 



PAUL AT EPHESUS. 413 

fine arts and of philosophy, was a large commercial 
city on the isthmus which unites the ancient Pelopon- 
nesus, the modern Morea, with the main land. It had 
convenient harbours on either side, and commanded a 
large share of trade between Italy and Asia Minor. It 
was therefore a favourable point for communicating 
with other places. 

The Apostle was greatly assisted in this place by his 
acquaintance with the converted Jew, Aquila, and his 
wife Priscilla, of Pontus in Asia Minor. During his 
residence here he was again joined by Silas and Timo- 
thy ; and wrote, at different times, his First and Second 
Epistles to the Thessalonians, A. D. 49, 50. 

From Corinth, Paul hastened back to Palestine, 
merely stopping at Ephesus for a short time, where he 
left Aquila and his wife, who had sailed wuth him from 
Cenchrsea, the eastern port of Corinth. 

Ephesus subsequently became the centre of Paul's 
labours, and the seat of Christianity in Asia Minor. It 
is now in utter ruins, but its site is recognised on a 
plain at the head of a bay near the island of Samos, 
perhaps fifty or sixty miles south of Smyrna. 

The proud temple of Diana, one of the wonders of the 
world, the building of which occupied two hundred and 
twenty years, has crumbled down to dust, and left no 
trace even of its position. A few detached fragments 
of masonry, some broken columns and capitals, slight 
remains of an ancient dilapidated circus and theatre, in 
gloomy desolation, mark the situation of this proud city, 

Situation of Corinth ? Harbours ? Trade of the city ? Aquila 
and PrisciUa ? Epistle to Thessalonians ? Return of the Apostle ? 
Cenchraea ? Aquila at Ephesus ? Situation of Ephesus ? Distance 
and direction from Smyrna ? Ruins ? Temple of Diana ? Time 
occupied in building it ? * 



414 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

hallowed as the chosen residence of the Apostle Paul, 
of Timothy, and of John the beloved disciple. 

With the hope of removing the prejudices of the Jews 
and of Jewish converts, and to prevent an outbreak 
between them and the Gentile converts, Paul, after an 
absence of three years, A. D. 48-51, resolved to return 
to Palestine. On this return he visited Jerusalem and 
performed a vow, by presenting an offering publicly in 
the temple, after the manner of the Jews. (Acts xviii.) 

From Jerusalem he hastened to Antioch, where he 
met wdth Barnabas and other friends and former asso- 
ciates in publishing the Gospel. Here he was also 
joined by Peter, and the Apostles of the Jews united in 
Christian fellowship with the Apostles of the Gentiles, 
as fellows-labourers in a common cause. 

" But this beautiful unanimity was disturbed by some 
Judaizing zealots, who came from Jerusalem, probably 
with an evil design, since what they had heard of the 
free publication of the gospel among the heathen was 
offensive to their contracted feelings. For a considera- 
ble time the pharisaically-minded Jewish Christians 
appeared to have been silenced by the apostolic deci- 
sions, but they could not be induced to give up an 
opposition so closely allied with a mode of thinking 
exclusively Jewish, against a completely free and inde- 
pendent gospel. 

''The constant enlargement of Paul's sphere of 
labour among the heathen, of which they became more 
fully aware by his journeys to Jerusalem and Antioch, 
excited afresh their suspicion and jealousy. Though 

Consecrated by the labours of Paul and others ? Object of Paul's 
return to Jerusalem ? Meeting of brethren at Antioch ? Harmony 
interrupted? ^ ~ 



CONTROVERSY AT ANTIOCH, 415 

they professed to be delegates sent by James from 
Jerusalem, it by no means follows that they were justi- 
fied in so doing ; for before this time such Judaizers 
had falsely assumed a similar character. These per- 
sons were disposed not to acknowledge the uncircum- 
cised Gentile Christians who observed no part of the 
Mosaic ceremonial law, as genuine Christian brethren, 
as brethren in the faith, endowed with privileges equal 
to their own in the kingdom of Messiah. As they looked 
upon them as still unclean, they refused to eat with 
them. 

'^ The same Peter who had at first asserted so em- 
phatically the equal rights of the Gentile Christians, and 
afterwards at the last apostolic convention had so strenu- 
ously defended them — now allowed himself to be car- 
ried away by a regard to his countrymen, and for the 
moment was faithless to his principles. We here recog- 
nise the old nature of Peter, which, though conquered 
by the Spirit of the gospel, was still active, and on some 
occasions regained the ascendency. The same Peter 
who, after he had borne the most impressive testimony 
to the Redeemer, at the sight of danger for an instant 
denied him. 

'' The example of an apostle whose character stood 
so high, influenced other Christians of Jewish descent, 
so that even Barnabas withdrew from holding inter- 
course with Gentile Christians. Paul, who condemned 
what was evil, without respect of persons, called it an 
act of hypocrisy. He alone remained faithful to his prin- 
ciples, and in the presence of all administered a severe 

Peter's dissimulation ? His old nature ? Conduct of Barnabas ? 
Paul's reproof ? 



416 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

reprimand to Peter, and laid open the inconsistency of 
his conduct. (Gal. ii.) 

«< If we fix this controversy of Paul and Peter — which, 
as the following history shows, produced no permanent 
separation between them — exactly at this period, it will 
throw much light on the connexion of events. Till now 
the pacification concluded at Jerusalem between the 
Jewish and Gentile Christians had been maintained 
inviolate. Till now Paul had to contend only w^ith 
Jewish opponents, not with Judaizers in the churches 
of Gentile Christians ; — but now the opposition between 
the Jewish and Gentile Christians, which the apostolic 
resolutions had repressed, again made its appearance. 

'^ As in this capital of Gentile Christianity, which 
formed the central point of Christian missions, this con- 
troversy first arose, so exactly in the same spot it broke 
forth afresh, notwithstanding the measures taken by the 
apostles to settle it; and having once been renewed, it 
spread itself through all the churches where there was 
a mixture of the Jews and Gentiles. Here Paul had 
first to combat that party whose agents afterwards per- 
secuted him in every scene of his labours.'"^ 

THIRD MISSIONARY TOUR. 

After remaining in Jerusalem a short time, the Apos- 
tle returned to Ephesus, following the course of his 
former tour through Cilicia to Derbe, Lystra, and Ico- 
nium, then proceeding north to Galatia; and from 

Hostility of the Jews to Paul ? Of Judaizing teachers and Jewish 
converts? 

Route of the Apostle in his third tour ? 

*Neander, vol. i. 245-9. 



Paul's visit to corinth. 417 

thence through Phrygia to his place of destination, 
where he is supposed to have arrived in the beginning 
of the year 51. ^Acts xviii : 23.) 

Soon after taking up his residence at Ephesus, Paul, 
in the opinion of Bleek, approved by Neander, Schott, 
and Credner, made a second visit to Corinth, of which 
the historian has left no record. The incidents recorded 
in the nineteenth chapter of Acts are indeed referable 
to this period of time ; but the history of these eventful 
years of his life is wholly unknown, except so far as 
inferred from his epistles. From Ephesus he wrote his 
Epistle to the Galatians, and the First to the Corinthians. 

«' At the time of his waiting this epistle to Corinth, he 
had formed an extensive plan for his future labours. 
As during his stay of several years in Achaia and at 
Ephesus, he had laid a sufficient foundation for the ex- 
tension of the Christian church among the nations who 
used the Greek language, he now wished to transfer 
his ministry to the West; and as it was his fundamen- 
tal principle to make those regions the scene of his 
activity where no one had laboured before him — he 
wished on that account to visit Rome, the metropolis of 
the world, where a church had long since been estab- 
lished, in his way to Spain (Rom. xv : 24, 28), and then 
to commence the publication of the gospel at the ex- 
tremity of Western Europe. 

^' But, before putting this plan into execution, he 
wished to obtain a munificent collection in the churches 
of the Gentile Christians for their poor believing brethren 
at Jerusalem, and to bring the amount himself to Jeru- 

Date of it ? Second visit to Corinth ? Epistles to Galatians and 
Corinthians ? Plan of labours in Western Europe ? Desire to vi^it 
Rome ? Charitable eiforts for the brethren at Jerusalgn ? 
27 



418 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

salem, accompanied by some members of the churches. 
Already, some time before he despatched this epistle to 
the Corinthians, he had sent Timothy and some others 
to Macedonia and Achaia to forward this collection, 
and to counterwork the disturbing influences in the 
Corinthian church. (^1 Cor. iv : 17.) 

«^ He hoped to receive through him an account of the 
impression which his epistle had made. But he found 
himself deceived in his expectations, for Timothy w^as 
probably prevented from travelling as far as Corinth, 
and came back to Ephesus without bringing the infor- 
mation which the Apostle expected. The Apostle, 
animated by a tender paternal anxiety for the church, 
became uneasy respecting the effect produced by his 
epistle ; he, therefore, sent Titus to Corinth, for the 
purpose of obtaining information, and that he might 
personally operate on the church in accordance w^ith 
the impression made by the epistle.'"^ 

After leaving Ephesus, Paul seems to have laboured 
for some time at Troas, while aw^aiting in vain the re- 
turn of Titus from Corinth. He then set sail again for 
Macedonia, where he had gratifying evidence that the 
churches which had been planted there were advancing 
in the Christian life. The remainder of the summer 
and autumn he spent in Macedonia, and the winter 
A. D. 54-5, in Greece, principally at Corinth (Acts xx : 
42), w^here he wrote his Epistle to the Romans. 

In the spring of A. J), 55, or, according to Neander, 
58 or 59, he again returns by land to Philippi, where he 

Timothy in Macedonia and Achaia? Failure in his object, and 
return ? Titus at Corinth ? Paul in Macedonia ? State of the 
churches ? Summer and winter of A. D. 54-5 ? Visit to Philippi ? 



♦ Neander, vol. i. 309-U* 



THIRD MISSIONARY TOUR. 419 

takes ship and arrives at Troas, now for the third time, 
and at the Jewish Passover — the days of unleavened 
bread. (Acts xx: 6.) He travelled on foot to Assos, a 
distance of more than a day's journey south of Troas, 
where he joined his party and sailed to Mitylene, on 
the island of Lesbos, opposite Assos, from which it is 
separated by a narrow strait. Another day's sail brought 
them to Chios, now Scio, not far from Smyrna, south- 
east of the bay. This island is memorable in modern 
times for the atrocious butchery of the inhabitants by the 
Turks in 1822. 

The next day he touched at the island of Samos, 
and passed on to Trogillum, on the mainland opposite. 
The day following he landed at Miletus, about thirty 
miles south of Ephesus, and withdrawn a little from the 
coast, on a stream of water. Here he had an affectionate 
farewell interview with the elders of Ephesus, under the 
full consciousness that they would see his face no more. 
(Acts XX.) 

Miletus was the capital of the province of Ionia, and 
a place of considerable importance. There was, for 
several centuries, a Christian church in the city, but the 
place is now deserted and in ruins. 

Rhodes, at which he touched on his voyage, is an 
island lying off the south-west coast of Asia Minor ; 
celebrated, from the remotest antiquity, as the seat of 
commerce, navigation, literature, and the arts. The 
climate is delightful, and the soil fertile ; the scenery 
highly picturesque, and the air perfumed with the 

Return to Troas ? Goes to Assos, where ? Mitylene ? Chios ? 
Memorable for what ? Paul arrives at Samos, where ? Trogillum ? 
Former importance and present condition of Miletus? Rhodes, 
celebrated for what ? Climate ? Soil ? Scenery ? 



420 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

richest fragrance ; and yet, by the devastations of war 
and the rapacity of the Turks, the inhabitants are re- 
duced to extreme poverty. It is famous in ancient story 
for its huge Colossus, a hundred and twenty-six feet in 
height. . ^ 

Patara is a small port on the coast, a day's sail east 
of Rhodes. From this place they direct their course to 
Tyre, passing Cyprus on the left. 

After remaining with the Christian converts in Tyre 
one week, the Apostle proceeded on his w^ay to Ptole- 
mais, where also he found Christians, with whom he 
tarried one day. This city is the modern Acre, Accho, 
or Akka. It is thirty miles below Tyre, and eight north 
of Mount Carmel. This town, the key of Syria, is 
more strongly fortified than any other in the country. 
The appearance of its defences is still formidable, not- 
withstanding all the vicissitudes of war which it has 
survived. 

It stands on an angular promontory jutting into the 
sea. The walls are in many places double ; and those 
on the land-side are protected by strong outworks of 
mounds with facings of stone. The walls are remarka- 
bly strong. 

Age after age it has flourished and fallen into decay, 
wdth the alternations of peace and war. It was the 
stronghold of the Crusaders ; and was besieged by 
Bonaparte. In 1832 it sustained a siege of six months 
against Ibrahim Pacha, during which thirty-five thou- 
sand shells were thrown into it. Again in 1840 it was 

Poverty of the inhabitants ? Patara ? Paul at Tyre ? Ptolemais ? 
Modern name of it ? Situation ? Defences of the place ? Its im- 
portance ? Besieged by Bonaparte ? By Ibrahim Pacha ? Bom- 
bardment by the English ? 



THIRD MISSIONARY TOUR. 421 

bombarded by the English fleet ; and was reduced by 
the explosion of the powder magazine, by which two 
thousand soldiers were hurried into eternity without a 
moment's warning. It is said that the art of making 
glass was first discovered in this place in the following 
manner: — 

^' Some Sidonians, on their return from a trading- 
voyage to Egypt, where they had taken some nitre on 
board for ballast, once landed under the walls of Accho, 
and encamped near the mouth of the river Belus. In 
order to cook their food, one of the crew gathered some 
of the saline plants that grew on the banks of the river, 
and made a fire with them ; another brought from the 
vessel a large piece of nitre, and put it in the fire to 
support the kettle. The nitre soon began to melt, and 
mingling with the sand and salt, formed a clear, trans- 
parent substance. They examined into the matter, and 
found that the nitre, by coming in contact with the sand, 
caused it to melt, and thus they discovered the composi- 
tion of what we call glass. The fine silicious sand of the 
Belus is very well adapted to the manufacture of this 
article, and many ship-loads of it are annually exported 
for the use of the Venetian glass-factories."* 

From Ptolemais to Csesarea was but a short voyage, 
and from thence, contrary to all remonstrances of his 
friends, he pressed on, bound in spirit, not knowing 
what might befall him in this his last sad visit to Jeru- 
salem. 

Making glass discovered ? Time and manner of the discovery ? 
Remonstrances w^ith the Apostle against going to Jerusalem ? His 
decision ? 



Biblical Geography, pp. 20, 21. 



422 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

The Apostle was about to bring to a close his minis- 
try in the East. The charitable collection which he 
had made, and which he was bound to deliver in per- 
son, constitutes an epoch in his life and in the develope- 
ment of the church, which will be best explained in the 
words of Neander : — 

'« A year had passed since he had with great zeal set 
this collection on foot among the churches of Gentile 
Christians in Asia and Europe, and it w^as of importance 
to him that it should be very productive. He had 
already written to the Corinthian church (1 Cor. xvi : 4), 
that if this collection equalled his wishes, he would 
convey it himself to Jerusalem. It was certainly not 
merely his intention to assist the poor of the church at 
Jerusalem in their temporal necessities ; he had an 
object still more important for the developement of the 
church, to effect a radical cure of the breach between 
the Jewish and the Gentile Christians, and to seal for 
perpetuity the unity of the church. 

^' As the immediate power of love can effect more to 
heal the schism of souls, than all formal conferences in 
favour of union, so the manner in which the Gentile 
churches evinced their love and gratitude to the mother 
church, would accomplish what had not yet been at- 
tained by all attempts at union. 

'^ Paul wished, since he was accompanied to Jerusa- 
lem by the messengers of these churches, who practi- 
cally contradicted the charges disseminated against him 
by his Jewish and Judaizing adversaries, — that the 
proofs of the sympathizing and self-sacrificing love of 
the Gentile Christians should serve as evidence to the 

Object of this charitable collection and of Paul's visit to Jerusa- 
lem ? Prejudices against Gentile churches ? 



THIRD MISSIONARY TOUR. 423 

Jewish Christians, who had imbibed prejudices against 
them, of what could be effected by the preaching of the 
gospel independently of the law of Moses ; so that they 
would be obliged to acknowledge the operation of God's 
Spirit among these, whom they had always been indis- 
posed to receive as brethren in the faith. Paul himself 
plainly indicates this to have been his chief object in 
this collection and journey. (2 Cor. ix: 12-15.)"* 

^' The next day after his arrival at Jerusalem, Paul 
with his companions visited James the brother of the 
Lord, at w^hose house the presbyters of the church were 
assembled. They listened with great interest to his 
account of the effects of the gospel among the Gentiles. 
But James called his attention to the fact, that a great 
number of Jews w^ho believed on Jesus as the Messiah, 
and w^ere yet zealous and strict observers of the Mosaic 
law", were prejudiced against him ; for those Judaizers, 
who everywhere sought to injure Paul's ministry, had 
circulated in Jerusalem the charge against him, that, 
not content with releasing the believing Gentiles from 
the observance of the Mosaic law, he had required of 
the Jews who lived among them not to circumcise their 
children, and not to observe the law\ 

<^ This charge, so brought forward, was certainly 
false ; for Paul combated the outward observance of 
Judaism only so far as the justification and santification 
of men were made to depend upon it. 

^« As by this accusation the conduct of Paul would 
be presented in a false light, and since he was far from 

PauPs interview with the presbyters ? Suggestions of James ? 
False charges against Paul ? Willingness to conform to Jewish 
customs ? 

* Neander, vol. i. 343, 344. 



424 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

being such an enemy to Judaism as his adversaries 
wished him to appear, he declared himself to be ready, 
as James proposed, to refute that charge by an overt 
act, by taking part in the Jewish cultus in a mode which 
w^as highly esteemed by pious Jews. He joined him- 
self to four members of the church, who had undertaken 
a Nazarite's vow for seven days. He submitted to the 
same restraints, and intimated to the priests that he 
would be answerable for the expense of the offerings 
that were to be presented on the accomplishment of the 
purification. But though he might have satisfied by 
this means the minds of the better disposed among the 
Jewish Christians, the inveterate zealots among the 
Jews were not at all conciliated. On the contrary, they 
were only more incensed, that the man who, as they 
said, had everywhere taught the Gentiles to blaspheme 
the people of God, the Law and the Temple, had ven- 
tured to take a part in the Jewish cultus. They had 
seen a Gentile Christian, Trophimus, in company with 
him, and hence the fanatics concluded that he had 
taken a Gentile w^th him into the temple and defiled it. 
A violent tumult instantly arose, and Paul was rescued 
from the enraged multitude only by means of the Roman 
tribune, who hastened to the spot with a band of sol- 
diers from the Arx Antonia^ situated over against the 
temple, the quarters of the Roman garrison."* 

The remaining incidents of this visit are detailed 
in Acts xxiii. Antipatris, to which he was conducted 

Nazarite vow ? Result of these attempts to obviate Jewish pre- 
judices ? Origin of the tumult and mob ? How suppressed ? Paul 
at Antipatris ? 



* Neander, vol. i. 352-9. 



THIRD MISSIONARY TOUR. 425 

by a strong military escort on his way to Csesarea, 
"was a town built by Herod the Great on the plain of 
Sharon, some distance from the coast, fifteen miles 
north of Lydda or Ramleh, twenty-six south-by-east 
from Csesarea, and near forty north-north-west from 
Jerusalem. 

The ruins of an ancient Roman road still conduct the 
curious traveller securely along the route over which 
the Apostle was conducted by a Roman escort from 
Jerusalem to Antipatris. This road was undoubtedly 
the principal line of travel and transportation between 
the city and the coast of the Mediterranean. 

After lingering two years in confinement at Caesarea, 
he was permitted to proceed on his way to Rome, to 
prosecute his appeal before the governor. 

Chronologists greatly differ in regard to the date of 
this journey to Rome, as also in relation to all hisjour- 
neyings. His voyage to Rome is referred by different 
computations to A. D. 56, 59, 61, 62, and 63. 

How extensive the travels, how vast the results of the 
missionary labours of this great Apostle in the East ! 
Within a few years he had traversed the countries of 
Arabia, Palestine, Syria, and most of the provinces of 
Asia Minor, Macedonia, Achaia, and Corinth ; together 
with the island of Cyprus, preaching everywhere the 
gospel of the grace of God, testifying both to Jew and 
Gentile, repentance and faith in Christ, and establish- 
ing churches, over all of which he had watched with 
more than parental tenderness. 

Situation of it ? Term of his confinement at Caesarea ? Object 
of his proposed journey to Rome ? Chronological data ? Extent of 
his missionary labours ? Care of the churches ? 



426 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY* 

VOYAGE TO ROME. 

In going to Rome the usual way was, to embark for 
some port in Asia Minor, and there take passage for 
Italy, because it was not easy to find a ship that might 
sail from Csesarea direct for Rome. (Comp. Acts xxvii. 
xxviii.) The centurion who had Paul in charge, ac- 
cordingly embarked at Zidon on board a ship from 
Adramyttium, a small port opposite the isle of Lesbos ; 
and sailing north of Cyprus, coasted along by Cilicia 
and Pamphylia, and touched at Myra, in Lycia, west of 
Perga and Attalia, and east of Patara. 

Here they changed ship, and continued slowly ad- 
vancing along the coast against baffling winds, until 
they arrived at Cnidus, a small town on the south-west- 
ern promontory of iVsia Minor. They then changed their 
course, and sailed around the south shore of Crete. 
Salmone is a promontory forming the eastern extremity 
of the island. Fair Havens is a roadstead, or insecure 
harbour, near the middle of the southern coast. 

The season was now far advanced, as is indicated 
by the fact that the fast of the propitiation, the great day 
of the atonement, which occurred in the month Tisri, 
October 10, was already passed. (Acts xxvii : 9 ; Comp. 
Lev. xvi : 1-34 ; Num. xxix : 1-11.) 

Phenice, which they vainly attempted to reach, lay 
on the same coast, further west. Clauda, near which 
the ship became unmanageable after having been struck 
by a fearful tempest, is a very small island at the south- 
Customary route to Rome ? Course of PauPs voyage ? Adra- 
myttium ? First landing, Myra ? Second landing, Cnidos ? Crete ? 
Salmone ? Fair Havens ? Lateness of the season here indicated ? 
Phenice ? Clauda ? Tempest in the Adriatic ? 



VOYAGE TO ROME. 427 

western extremity of Crete, now called Gozzo, and con- 
taining not more than thirty families. 

After passing this, they were driven for many days at 
the mercy of wind and wave in the Adriatic Sea, that 
portion of the Mediterranean between Greece, Italy, and 
the coast of Africa, until they were finally wrecked on 
the island of Malta, called then Melita. 

« The name of St. Paul's Bay has been given to the 
place where the shipwreck is supposed to have taken 
place. This, the sacred historian says, was at « a cer- 
tain creek with a shore,' L e. a seemingly practicable 
shore, on which they purposed, if possible, to strand the 
vessel, as their only apparent chance to escape being 
broken on the rocks. In attempting this the ship seems 
to have struck and gone to pieces on the rocky head- 
land at the entrance of the creek. This agrees very 
well with St. PauPs Bay, more so than with any other 
creek of the island. This bay is a deep inlet on the 
north side rf the island, being the last indentation of 
the coast but one from the western extremity of the 
island. It is about two miles deep, by one mile broad. 
The harbour which it forms is very unsafe at some dis- 
tance from the shore, although there is good anchorage 
in the middle for light vessels. The most dangerous 
part is the western headland at the entrance of the bay, 
particularly as there is close to it a small island (Sala- 
mone), and a still smaller islet (Salamonetta), the cur- 
rents and shoals around which are particularly dangerous 
in stormy weather. It is usually supposed that the ves- 
sel struck at this point. 

"The island of Malta lies in the Mediterranean, 

Shipwreck? Malta? St. PauPsBay? 



428 HISTOBICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

about sixty miles south from Cape Passaro, in Sicily. 
It is sixty miles in circumference, twenty in length, and 
twelve in breadth. Near it, on the west, is a smaller 
island, called Gozo, about thirty miles in circumference. 
Malta has no mountains or high hills, and makes no 
figure from the sea. It is naturally a barren rock, but 
has been made in parts abundantly fertile by the indus- 
try and toil of man."^ 

After lingering here three months, they sailed to 
Syracuse, a large, wealthy, and beautiful city on the 
east coast of Sicily. It is said to have contained a 
million of inhabitants, and still has a population of two 
hundred and forty thousand. The cathedral of the city, 
it is said, w^as a temple of Minerva, twenty-five hun- 
dred years ago. 

Rhegium, where they next landed, is in the extreme 
south of Italy, opposite Messina. Between these places 
is the strait of the fabulous Scylla and Charybdis. A fa- 
vourable south wind the next day carried them through 
this strait to Puteoli, four miles north of Naples, and 
sixty south of Rome ; where the Apostle found Christian 
brethren, with whom he tarried seven days. 

The fame of the Apostle's approach had reached the 
brethren also at Rome, who came out forty-three miles 
to meet him, at Appii Forum. Others again met him 
at The Three Taverns, eight or ten miles nearer Rome. 
At the affectionate salutation of these brethren, his 
spirits were greatly refreshed. He thanked God and 
topk courage. 

Continuance here ? Syracuse ? Population ? Cathedral ? Rhe- 
gium ? Scyila and Charybdis ? Puteoli ? Christian brethren here ? 
Met at Appii Forum ? Three Taverns ? 

* Kitto's Cyclopaedia, vol. ii. 324. 



PAUL AT ROME. 429 

Appii Forum derived its name from a noble Roman, 
who undertook to build a solid road through the Pontine 
marshes. Three Taverns is the name of a town, which 
took its name from the tabernce, shops for the sale of 
refreshments, rather than inns for the entertainment of 
travellers. The badness of the water at Appii Forum, 
of which Horace complains (Sat. i. 5, 7), may have 
been a reason for the establishing of this place for rest 
and refreshment. The ruins of this place still exist 
under the same name. 

The report of Festus and Agrippa, confirmed as it 
must have been by the centvrion who had conducted 
Paul to Rome, appears to have made a favourable im- 
pression respecting him. He was accordingly treated 
with more indulgence than the other prisoners. He was 
allowed to have a private dwelling, to enjoy the free 
intercourse of his friends, and to correspond with those 
that were absent. Only a single soldier attended him 
as guard, to whom, according to the military custom 
of holding one under arrest, he was fastened by a chain 
on the arm. 

Three days after his arrival he began his benevolent 
labours, w^ith the Jews first; and continued for two full 
years, while detained as a prisoner, to receive all who 
came to him, " preaching the kingdom of God, and 
teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus 
Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him." 
(Acts xxviii : 17, 31.) 

During this confinement at Rome, Paul wrote his 

Origin of the name Appii Forum ? Of Three Taverns ? Quality 
of the water ? Favourable impressions respecting 8aul ? Privi- 
leges granted to him as prisoner ? Mode of confinement ? Labours 
with the Jews ? Epistles written at Rome I 



430 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

Epistles to Philemon, to the Philippians, to the Hebrews, 
and to the church at Colosse. 

This town was near a hundred and fifty miles east 
of Ephesus in Phrygia, and not far from Laodicea. It 
is mentioned by Xenophon, in his Anabasis, as a large 
and flourishing city. It was afterwards destroyed by an 
earthquake, but was again rebuilt, and is still known as 
a small village called Khonas. 

A high mountain rises immediately behind the vil- 
lage, in which there is an immense perpendicular 
chasm, from which issues a wide mountain torrent. On 
the left side of the chasm, upon the summit of the rock, 
and on the plain below, a few traces of the ancient 
town are observable. 

Here our history of the labours of Paul abruptly ter- 
minates ; but it is generally admitted that he was re- 
leased from confinement, and continued for a few^ years 
his missionary labours. Neander supposes him to have 
visited the churches which he had formerly planted in 
Greece, Macedonia, Thrace, and Asia Minor; and to 
have preached the gospel also in Crete. During this 
time he wrote his Epistle to Titus, and the First to 
Timothy. 

After this he went into Western Europe, in fulfilment 
of the purpose he had cherished so long; and then, 
probably in Spain, was soon arrested and brought back 
a prisoner to Rome. 

Now, in full prospect of death, he writes his Second 
Epistle to Timothy. In this final address, he exhibits, 
in a most endearing light, his elevated composure, his 

Subsequent labours, according to Neander ? Epistles to Timothy 
and Titus ? Visits Western Europe ? Arrested and brought back? 
Circumstances in which he wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy ? 



PATMOS, AND THE SEVEN CHURCHES. 431 

forgetfulness of himself, his tender parental care of his 
disciples, his concern for the cause in which he had so 
long and so faithfully laboured, and his assured confi- 
dence of its final triumph. The aged Apostle, after a 
pilgrimage of sixty years or more, worn down with 
ceaseless toil, and ready for his departure, pants for the 
repose of heaven. And, according to his desire, so it is 
granted to him. Heaven is already let down into his 
soul. Its triumph is begun. The crown of glory which 
is just settling on his head, sheds its divine radiance on 
the victor's brow and fires his eye, while he exclaims: 
<' I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my 
departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I 
have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Hence- 
forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, 
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give unto 
me." 

And now, in the heights of heaven, highest in honour 
among them who have turned many to righteousness, 
his gladdened spirit still shouts, " Oh, the height, the 
length, the depth, and the breadth of the love of Christ, 
which passeth knowledge ! " '^ By the grace of God 
I am what I am." 

'' Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Yea, 
saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and 
their works do follow them." 

PATMOS, AND THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR. 

Patmos is a short distance south of Samos, not far 
from the coast below Ephesus. It is nothing but one 

Affectionate spirit ? Calm expectation of death? :- Triumphant 
anticipation of reward ? 
Situation of Patmos ? 



432 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

continued rock, very irregular, mountainous, and ex- 
tremely barren. It is about twelve miles in length, six 
in breadth, and twenty-eight in circumference. Its coast 
is high, and consists of a collection of capes, with excel- 
lent bays and harbours. The one in use is a deep gulf 
on the north-east side of the island, sheltered by high 
mountains on every side but one, which is protected by 
a projecting cape. 

The town is situated on a high mountain, rising im- 
mediately from the sea. The view of the island from 
the highest points is very singular. One looks down 
upon nothing but mountains, and lofty promontories jut- 
ting out into the sea and separated by deep bays. 

On account of its stern and desolate character, the 
island was used, under the Roman Emperors, as a 
place of banishment ; w^hich accounts for the exile of 
John thither «'for the testimony of Jesus." He was 
here favoured with those visions w^hich are recorded in 
the Apocalypse, and to w^hich the place owes its scrip- 
tural interest. The external aspect of the island, as 
viewed from the sea, and the associations connected 
with it, are forcibly expressed by the Scottish Delega- 
tion : — 

'^ We saw the peaks of its two prominent hills, but 
our course did not lie very near it. Still it was intensely 
interesting to get even a glance of that memorable spot 
where the beloved disciple saw the visions of God ; the 
spot, too, where the Saviour was seen and his voice 
heard for the last time until he comes again. John's 
eye often rested on the mountains and the islands among 
which we were passing, and on the shores and waves 

Extent ? Coast and bays ? Soil ? Town ? Place of banish- 
ment ? Scripture incidents and associations ? 



EPHESUS. 433 

of this great sea ; and often, after the vision was passed, 
these natural features of the place of his exile would 
refresh his spirit, recalling to his mind how he stood on 
the sand of the sea, and how he had seen that every 
island fled away, and the mountains were not found."" 

EPHESUS. 

Gibbon has sketched, with his usual spirit, the fall 
of this church and the present condition of the seven 
churches of Asia : «« In the loss of Ephesus, A. D'. 
1311, the Christians deplored the fall of the first angel, 
the extinction of the first candlestick of the Revelations. 
The desolation is complete ; and the temple of Diana, 
or the church of Mary, will equally elude the search of 
the curious traveller. 

'' The circus, and the three stately theatres of Laodi- 
cea, are now peopled with wolves and foxes. Sardis 
is reduced to a miserable village. The God of Mahomet 
is invoked in the mosques of Thyatira and Pergamos ; 
and the populousness of Smyrna is supported by the 
foreign trade of Franks and Armenians. 

^' Philadelphia alone has been preserved by prophecy 
or courage. At a distance from the sea, forgotten by 
the emperors, encompassed on all sides by the Turks, 
her valiant citizens defended their religion and freedom 
above fourscore years, and, at length, capitulated with 
the proudest of the Ottomans. Among the Greek colo- 
nies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect — 
a column in a scene of ruins. "^ 

Ephesus, when destroyed ? Gibbon's description of Laodicea ? 
Thyatira ? Pergamos ? Smyrna ? Philadelphia ? 

* Roman Empire, ed. 1835, p. 1173. 
28 



434 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

SMYRNA. 

Smyrna is about forty-eight miles north of Ephesus, 
at the head of a deep bay, forming an excellent har- 
bour, which has from time immemorial given it great 
commercial importance. It stands at the foot of a range 
of mountains, which enclose it on three sides. It has 
survived the catastrophes of war, pestilence, and earth- 
quakes, and is still one of the largest cities of Asia 
Minor, containing a population of a hundred and 
twenty or a hundred and fifty thousand. 

On one of the highest summits of the neighbouring 
heights is an old dilapidated castle, but the traces of the 
ancient city are almost entirely effaced. Polycarp, the 
disciple of John, is supposed to have been the '' angel" 
of this church of Smyrna, to whom the Apocalyptic 
message was sent. Here he suffered martyrdom not long 
after. When required to revile Christ, the venerable 
martyr exclaimed : ^ ' Eighty and six years have I served 
him, and he has never done me evil: How then can I 
revile my Lord and my Saviour ?'' 

PERGAMOS. 

Pergamos is sixty-four miles north of Smyrna. It is 
situated eighteen or twenty miles from the sea, on the 
north bank of the Caicus, at the base and on the decli- 
vity of three high and steep mountains, which flank the 
city on three sides. The middle summit is the highest, 
and is crowned by an ancient and desolate castle. The 
town has a population often or twelve thousand. 

Situation of Smyrna ? Commercial importance ? Catastrophes ? 
Population ? Polycarp ? Dying exclamation ? 
Situation of Pergamos ? 



THi^ATIRA. 435 

^' The eastern part of the town now lies waste. The 
other part is almost entirely inhabited by Turks, there 
being only a few poor Greek Christians, who have a 
church. About two centuries and a half before the 
Christian era, Pergamos became the residence of the 
celebrated kings of the family of Attains, and a seat of 
literature and the arts. King Eumenes, the second of 
the name, greatly beautified the town, and increased 
the library of Pergamos so considerably that the number 
of volumes amounted to two hundred thousand. As the 
Papyrus shrub had not yet begun to be exported from 
Egypt, sheep and goats' skins, cleaned and prepared 
for the purpose, were used as manuscripts ; and, as the 
art of preparing them was brought to perfection at Per- 
gamos, they, from that circumstance, obtained the name 
of Pergamena or parchment. The library remained in 
Pergamos after the kingdom of the Attali had lost its 
independence, until Antony removed it to Egypt, and 
presented it to Queen Cleopatra. ' I know thy works, 
and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is ; 
and thou boldest fast my name, and hast not denied my 
faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faith- 
ful martyr, who w^as slain among you, where Satan 
dwelleth.' (Rev. ii: 13.)"= 



1^ 



THYATIRA. 

Thyatira is between forty and fifty miles south-east 
from Pergamos, and twenty-seven from Sardis. It is 
still a considerable town, ill-built and dirty, but con- 
taining several thousand inhabitants ; and celebrated. 

Situation of Thyatira? Appearance? Arts? 
* Biblical Cabinet, pp. 14-16. 



436 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

as in former times, for the art of dyeing. It carries on 
an active trade with Smyrna in scarlet cloth. Lydia, a 
seller of purple, converted by the Apostle Paul at Phi- 
lippi (Acts xvi: 14, 15, 40), was a native of this place. 
The Christian traveller who visits this place in search 
of the ancient city, is requited only with disappointment 
and vain regrets. He finds nothing that he can identify 
wdth the Apocalyptic church. The <' works, and charity, 
and service, and faith, and patience," of this faithful 
church have no longer any memorial on earth but the 
commendation contained in the epistle to the angel of 
the church in Thyatira. 

SARDIS. 

''Sardis (Rev. iii: 4), now called Sart, lies in the 
incomparably beautiful valley of the Pactolus, at the 
foot of the lofty Tmolus. It was once the capital of the 
kingdom of Crcesus, celebrated for his wealth. He was 
conquered by Cyrus. The ruins of the city, buried for 
the most part under the sand, bear witness that the 
Lord ' has come as a thief upon this community. The 
black tents of the wandering Turcomans are scattered 
through the valley ; the whistle of the camel-driver now 
resounds in the palace of Crcesus, and the song of the 
lonely thrush is heard from the walls of the old Chris- 
tian church. Schubert found there only two Christian 
millers, in 1836, who spoke nothing but Turkish."^ 

A countless number of sepulchral hillocks beyond the 
Hermus, where sleep the dead of three thousand years, 
heighten the desolateness of the spot which the multi- 
Trade ? Lydia of Thyatira ? 
Sardis ? Sepulchral hillocks ? 

* Biblical Geography, p. 340, 



SARDIS. 437 

tudes lying there once made busy by their living presence 
and pursuits. The summit of the Tmolus is bare, rocky, 
and snow-clad ; a little lower its heights are covered 
with wood, and at the base there are high ridges of earth, 
and rocks with deep ravines. On one of these emi- 
nences, the sides of which are almost perpendicular, 
stood the ancient castle of the governors of Lydia. A 
concealed, narrow, and steep passage conducts to the 
walls, near to which probably is the place where the 
Persians appeared before the town. 

The following graphic description of the scenery of 
the place by moonlight is given by a recent traveller : — 

" Beside me were the cliffs of the Acropolis, which, 
centuries before, the hardy Median scaled, while lead- 
ing on the conquering Persians, whose tents had covered 
the very spot on which I was reclining. Before me 
were the vestiges of what had been the palace of the 
gorgeous Croesus ; within its walls were once congre- 
grated the wisest of mankind, Thales, Cleobulus, and 
Solon. It was here that the wretched father mourned 
alone the mangled corse of his beloved Atys ; it was 
here that the same humiliated monarch wept at the feet 
of the Persian boy, who wrung from him his kingdom. 
Far in the distance were the gigantic tumuli of the 
Lydian monarchs, Candaules, Halyattes, and Gyges ; 
and around them were spread those very plains, once 
trodden by the countless hosts of Xerxes when hurrying 
on to find a sepulchre at Marathon. 

'^ There were more varied and more vivid remem- 
brances associated with the sight of Sardis, than could 
possibly be attached to any other spot of earth ; but all 
w^ere mingled with a feeling of disgust at the littleness 

The Tmolus ? Castle ? Description of the place by moonlight ? 



438 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of human glory; all — all had passed away! There 
were before me the fanes of a dead religion, the tombs 
of forgotten monarchs, and the palm-tree that waved in 
the banquet-hall of kings ; while the feeling of desola- 
tion was doubly heightened by the calm sweet sky 
above me, w^hich, in its unfading brightness, shone as 
purely now as when it beamed upon the golden dreams 
of Croesus."* 

PHILADELPHIA. 

Philadelphia was about twenty-jfive miles south-east 
from Sardis. It still exists as a Turkish town, covering 
a considerable extent of ground, running up the slopes 
of an irregular hill with four fiat summits. 

'^ The country, as viewed from these hills, is ex- 
tremely magnificent — gardens and vineyards lying at 
the back and sides of the town, and before it one of the 
most extensive and beautiful plains of Asia. The town 
itself, although spacious, is miserably built and kept, 
the dwellings being remarkably mean, and the streets 
exceedingly filthy. Across the summits of the hill 
behind the town, and the small valleys between them, 
runs the town- wall, strengthened by circular and square 
iowers, and forming also an extensive and long quad- 
rangle in the plain below. 

" There are few ruins ; but in one part there are 
still found four strong marble pillars, which supported 
the dome of a church. The dome itself has fallen down, 
but its remains may be observed, and it is seen that the 
arch was of brick. On the sides of the pillars are 
inscriptions, and some architectural ornaments in the 

Philadephia ? View of the country from the hills ? Ruins ? 
* Emerson, cited in Stuart's Apocalypse, vol. ii. 44. 



LAODICEA. 439 

form of the figures of saints. One solitary pillar of high 
antiquity has been often noticed, as reminding beholders 
of the remarkable words in the Apocalyptic message to 
the Philadelphian church : ' Him that overcometh will 
I make a pillar in the temple of my God ; and he shall 
go no more out.' "* 

LAODICEA. 

Laodicea lay south-east of Philadelphia, about forty 
miles east of Ephesus, in the south-west part of Phrygia, 
and near Colosse and Hierapolis. The ruins of the 
ancient town are situated on the flat summit of the 
lowest elevation of the mountain, which terminates 
steeply towards the valley of the Lycus. Many sepul- 
chral monuments and imposing ruins attest the ancient 
grandeur of the place. It is celebrated for a hot spring 
with remarkable petrifying qualities. Here was a 
Christian church under the care of Epaphras (Coloss. 
iv: 12, 13), and here, according to Eusebius, the Apos- 
tle Philip was crucified. It was once a large city, as 
the ruins yet extant suflSciently attest. 

^« The whole rising ground on which the city stood, 
is one vast tumulus of ruins, abandoned entirely to the 
owl and the fox. This city was so situated, as to be- 
come the battle-ground of contending parties in Asia 
Minor, first under the Romans, and then under the 
Turks. It has doubtless suffered also from earthquakes. 
For centuries, we know not how many, it has been a 

perfect mass of ruins The name of Christianity is 

forgotten, and the only sounds that disturb the silence 

Situation of Laodicea ? Ancient grandeur ? Ruins ? Battle- 
ground of contending parties ? 

*Kitto's Cyclopaedia, vol. ii. 518. 



440 HISTOmCAL GEOGRAPHY. 

of its desertion, are the tones of the Muezzin, whose 
voice from the distant village proclaims the ascendency 
of Mohammed. Laodicea is even more solitary than 
Ephesus ; for the latter has the prospect of the rolling 
sea, or of a whitening sail, to enliven its decay ; while 
the former sits in widowed loneliness, its walls are grass- 
grown, its temples desolate, its very name has perished. 
We preferred hastening on, to a further delay in that 
melancholy spot, where everything whispered desola- 
tion, and w^here the very wind that swept impetuously 
through the valley, sounded like the fiendish laugh of 
Time exulting over the destruction of man and his 
proudest monuments. ""^ 

CONCLUSION. 

The view of Patmos and the seven churches, con- 
cludes this exhibition of Scripture scenery which has 
been passing in review before us, while, borne on the 
current of events, we have been carried down the stream 
of time through the long lapse of four thousand years. 
How vast, how various, how impressive the scenes 
which, age succeeding age, have engaged our contem- 
plations ! 

Our great progenitor, created in the image of God, 
has fallen from his high estate, and gone forth from his 
abode of innocence, under the curse of his Creator, to 
toil in ceaseless sorrow until he lays his aged head in 
the dust from which he sprang. 

The earth has been wrapped in a deluge of Divine 
wrath for the sins of men. The sinful pride of the gene- 
ration that repeopled it has been rebuked by their con- 
fusion of tongues and their dispersion through the earth ; 

* Emersorij cited in Stuart's Apocalypse, vol. ii. 45. 



CONCLUSION. 441 

while the monument of their folly, which they sought to 
rear to heaven and set fast as the perpetual hills, has 
crumbled down to dust. 

The chosen people of God, ever and anon rising in 
rebellion against the King of Heaven, and as often 
brought low, have survived all the vicissitudes of pros- 
perity and adversity, of war, pestilence, and famine. 
Holy men, in long succession, have written out the 
mighty roll of prophecy. While what was written in one 
age we have seen fulfilled in another. 

Empires and states have arisen to shake terribly the 
earth, and resigned to other hands their imperial power. 
The Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the 
Macedonians, the Romans, have successively swept 
their armies in desolation over the earth, and passed 
away. City after city has. risen to great renown, the 
proud metropolis of the world, and then sunk down into 
utter desolation, leaving scarce a trace behind ; or fallen 
back, into a confused heap of magnificent ruins. 

He that sitteth in the heavens has guided, the while, 
in still and benevolent wisdom, the changes of the 
shifting scene for the fulfilment of His holy will, un- 
folding His stupendous scheme of grace and salvation to 
man. The Son of Man has accomplished his mission 
of mercy on earth ; and, while the last of his disciples 
yet lingers on earth, his Gospel has gone out into all the 
w^orld. 

Such is the record of the Book of God : 

" Most wondrous book ! bright candle of the Lord ! ^ 

Star of eternity ! the only star 

By which the bark of man could navigate 

The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss 

Securely ; only star which rose on time, 

And on its dark and troubled billows, still 



442 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

As generation, drifting swiftly by. 

Succeeded generation, threw a ray 

Of heaven's own light, and to the hills of God, 

The everlasting hills, pointed the sinner's eye. 

By prophets, seers, and priests, and sacred bards, 

Evangelists, Apostles, men inspired, 

And by the Holy Ghost anointed, set 

Apart, and consecrated to declare 

To earth the counsels of the Eternal One, 

This book, this holiest, this sublimest book 

Was sent.'' 



CHEONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



This table embodies the results of the investigations of Mr. Browne 
in his Ordo Saeclorum, with a few additions from other sources. 
A. M. B. c. 

1. 4102-1. The first year of the Mundane Era, and of the life of 
Adam. Whether the years of Adam are reckoned 
from his creation, or from the expulsion from Para- 
dise, is left undecided. 
Cain and Abel. 
131. 3972-1. Birth of Seth. 
236. 3867-6. Birth of Enos. *' Then began men to call upon the 

name of the Lord." 
326. 3777-6. Birth of Cainan. 
396. 3707-6. Birth of Mahalaleel. 
461. 3642-1. Birth of Jared. 
623. 3480-79. Birth of Enoch. 
688. 3415-4. Birth of Methuselah. 
875. 3228-7. Birth of Lamech. 
931. 3172-1. Death of Adam, 930 y. 
988. 3115-4. Translation of Enoch, 365 y. 
1043. 3060-59. Death of Seth, 912 y. [Bisection of the period from 

Adam to the Promise.] 
1057. 3046-5. Birth of Noah. 
1141. 2962-1. Death of Enos, 905 y. 
1236. 2867-6. Death of Cainan, 910 y. 
1291. 2812-1. Death of Mahalaleel, 895 y. 
1423. 2680-79. Death of Jared, 962 y. 
1536. 2567-6. The ark begins to be prepa^red (120 y.) 

1557. 2546-5, Noah's eldest son is born (500 y.) 

1558. 2545-4. Shem is born. 
1652. 2451-0. Lamech dies, 777 y. 

1656. 2447. Methuselah dies, in his 969th year. 

The Flood, in the 600th year of Noah, 99th of Shem. 
The death of Abel must be supposed to have not long preceded the 
birth of Seth, since Eve regarded Seth as the substitute "for Abel, 
whom Cain slew." In that case there will be no difficulty in explain- 
ing Cain's exclamation, ** every one who findeth me shall slay me." 
In 120 years after the Creation, the earth may have had a considerable 
population. 

In the year of the Flood we have the following dates and numbers : 
Gen. vii. 3 — 10. A pause of 7 days. 
12,17. Rain 40 days. 

24. The waters prevailed 150 days ; " at the end of the 
150 days the waters were abated." viii. 3. 

(443) 



444 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

We must, therefore, arrange the times in this way: 
40 days, to the 10th of the 2d month (a. m. 1656, b. c. 2447). 
7 days suspense to the 17th day. The Flood begins. Noah enters 
the ark. 

40 days rain. 
110 days the waters prevail. 

150 days, ending at the 17th of the 7th month. (17 Nisan, a. m. 1656, 
B. c. 2446.) 

The year being lunar, the interval is in fact but 148 days, or it was 
on the 149th day current, that the ark rested ; but this discrepancy is 
of no moment. 

viii. 5. The waters decreased till the 10th month, 1st day ; 100 
days from the ark's resting. 

V. 6. At the end of 40 days (10th day of 11th month, i. e., of the 
month afterwards called Ab, the 5th month,) Noah opened the window 
and sent forth the raven and dove. 

V. 10. Seven days later, the dove was sent forth the second time : 
and at the end of another week, the third and last time ; 24th of 11th 
month. 

V. 13. On the 1st day of the new year (a week after the departure 
of the dove), the face of the ground was dry. 

V. 14. On the 27th of the 2d month Noah issues from the ark, after 
a sojourn of a lunar year and 10 days, or a complete solar year. 

*' Shem was 100 years old and begat Arphaxad 2 years after the 
Flood," xi. 10. If these two years are measured from the beginning 
of the Flood, so that the birth of Arphaxad lies in the year 1658, one 
year after the egress from the ark, the Table then proceeds as follows : 

Noah issues from the ark, 27th of 2d month. (Oct. or 

Nov.) 
Birth of Arphaxad. 
Birth of Salah. 
Birth of Eber. 

Birth of Peleg. The earth divided in his days (239 y.) 
Birth of Reu. 
Birth of Serug. 
Birth of Nahor. 
Birth of Terah. 
(Terah's eldest son is born.) 
Death of Peleg (239 y.) 
Death of Nahor (148 y.) 
Death of Noah (950 y.) 
Birth of Abraham. 
Death of Reu (239 y.) 
Death of Serug (230 y.) 

Death of Terah : Abraham departs to Canaan, 
Abraham in Canaan — after, in Egypt. 
Separation of Lot. 
The war at Sodom. Lot rescued. The Promise, 15 

Nisan, 2016, B. c. 

The annexed Table exhibits at one view the contents of the genea- 
logies in Gen. v. xi., so as to show at the same time the relative ages 
of the Patriarchs and the contemporary durations of their lives. 



A. M. 


B. 0. 


1657. 


2446-5. 


1658. 


2445-4. 


1693. 


2410-09. 


1723. 


2380-79. 


1757. 


2346-5. 


1787. 


2316-5. 


1819. 


2284-3. 


1849. 


2254-3. 


1878. 


2225-4. 


1948. 


2155-4. 


1996. 


2107-6. 


1997. 


2106-5. 


2006. 


2097-6. 


2008. 


2095-4. 


2026. 


2077-6. 


2049. 


2054-3. 


2083. 


2020-19. 


2084. 


2019-8. 


2085. 


2018-7. 


2086. 


2017-6. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



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446 HISTORICAL GEOGEAPHY. 

This tabular view is interesting and instructive in several particulars. 
It shows that Noah might have received the account of creation through 
six different channels with equal directness, thus — from Adam through 
Enos only, or from Cainan or Mahalaleel, or Jared or Methuselah, or 
Lamechj'his own father. Lamech was 56 years contemporary with 
Adam, and 100 years with Shem ; and Shem again was contemporary 
for several years both with Abraham and Isaac. The communication 
from Adam to Abraham and Isaac is only through Lamech and Shem. 
All the generations from Adam to the Flood were eleven. Of all 
these Adam was contemporary with nine, Seth with nine, Eiios ten, 
Cainan ten, Mahalaleel ten, Jared ten, Enoch nine, Methuselah eleven, 
Lamech eleven, Noah eight, Shem and brothers, four. Thus there 
were never less than nine contemporary generations from Adam to the 
Flood, which would give, in one lineal descent, eighty-one difierent 
channels, through which the account might be transmitted. 

Who ever imagined, without making the comparison, that Shem 
lived to witness all the glorious things transacted between God and 
Abraham ! Who would have supposed that Abraham and Isaac lived 
with those who for one hundred years of their early life witnessed and 
assisted in the building of the ark ; who were borne triumphantly in 
it through the swelling flood, saw the opening heavens, felt the heaving 
earth when its deep foundations were broken up, and heard the groan 
of a perishing world ! Yet such was the fact. Noah was contemporary 
with every generation after him down to Abraham, and Shem down to 
Jacob. 

Three narrations bring the account to the time when minute and 
particular history commences ; and when the art of inscribing upon 
papyrus, and probably upon parchment, was understood. The partici- 
pators in the awful scenes of the flood lived to see the Pharaohs, the 
pyramids and obelisks of Egypt, and probably to have those scenes 
stereotyped on monuments and in hieroglyphics which have come down 
to us. So that we have the account, in a manner, second-handed from 
Shem. 
B. c. 2093. Abraham born. 

2018. Abraham, 75 years old. departs from Haran, to which 
place he had previously gone from Ur of the Chaldees, 
Gen. xi. 31 — xii. 5 : comes to Sichem, thence to a place 
between Bethel and Ai: thence advances southward, 
2017. and, in consequence of a famine, descends into Egypt, 
where he makes no long stay, xii. Returns to Bethel. 
• Lot separates from Abraham, xiii. At this time the 
cities of the plain were revolted from Chedorlaomer, to 
whom they had been subject 12 years, xiv. 1. Chedor- 
2016. laomer's invasion, and battle with the kings of these 
cities. Abraham rescues Lot. Melchizedek blesses 
him, xiv : The word of the Lord comes to Abraham: 
THE Promise, xv. 
2007. Abraham 86 y. Ishmael is born, xvi. 
1994. Abraham 99 y. The covenant renewed : circumcision or- 
dained, xvii. The visit of the Three Angels, xviii. 
• Destruction of Sodom, xix. Abraham journeys south- 

ward : second denial of Sarah, xx. (in Gerar). 
1993. Isaac is bor^ (in Beer-sheba), xxi. Long sojourn in the 
land of the Philistines, v. 34. Abraham offers up Isaac, 
xxii. The time is not specified : the next event is the 
1956. death of Sarah, 127 y. (Abraham 137 y.) xxiii. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 447 

B. c. 1954. Isaac marries Rebekah, xxv. 20. Abraham marries Ke- 
turah. 

1934. Esau and Jacob born, xxv. Isaac removes to Gerar in 
consequence of a famine : denies his wife, xxvi. 

1918. Abraham dies, 175 y., xxv. 7. 

1894. Esau, 40 y., marries, xxvi. 34. 

1870. Ishmael dies, 137 y., xxv. 17. 

1856. Isaac, 137 y., blesses Jacob and Esau, 77 y. Jacob flees 
to Padan-Aram, xxvii. xxviii. Esau goes to Ishmael 
[to his family] and marries his daughter, xxviii. 6. 

1849. Jacob having served 7 y., marries Leah and Rachel, xxix. 
20-30. Leah bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah. 
Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali, to Rachel. Zilpah 
bears Gad and Asher, to Leah. Leah bears Issachar, 
Zebulon, and Dinah. 

1842. Rachel bears Joseph, xxx. 25. Jacob serves 6 y. for his 
cattle ; 20 y. in all, xxxi. 41. 

1836. The departure from Padan-Aram, xxxi. Jacob, 97 y., 
wrestles with the Angel, xxxii. Interview with Esau, 
xxxiii. Comes to Succoth, and there builds an house, 
V. 17. Hence to Shalem, a city of Shechem, " When 
he came from Padan-Aram, and pitched his tent before 
the city, and he bought a parcel of a field where he had 
spread his tent, of the children of Hamor. . .and he 
erected there an altar." xxxiii. 17-20. 

1836. Between this year and 1825, Jacob is settled at Hebron. 

1825. Joseph's dreams, xxxvii. He is sold into Egypt. Judah 
separates from his brethren, and marries Shuah, xxxviii. 
Birth of Er, Onan, and Shelah, 1825-1822. Jacob 
removes firom Hebron to Shechem : the slaughter of 
the Shechemites by Simeon and Levi, xxxiv. Jacob 
departs from Shechem, and is commanded to remove to 
Bethel, xxxv. 1. 
About 1815. Departure from Bethel, to Ephrath : Rachel dies in giving 
birth to Benjamin, v. 16-20. Jacob removes to Edar; 
thence to Hebron. 

1814. Joseph has been some time in prison, xxxix. ; interprets 
the dreams of the butler and baker, xl. (two years before 
Pharaoh's dream, xli. 1.) 

1813. Isaac dies, xxxv. 28. 

1812. Pharaoh's dream : Joseph advanced : seven years of plenty 
begin, xli. 
Ah. 1807. *' Judah took a wife for Er his first-born,*' xxxviii. 6. 
Death of Er and Onan. Joseph's two sons born. 

1805. Seven years of famine begin. 

1804. First descent of the Patriarchs into Egypt, xlii. 

1803. Second visit : Joseph discovers himself: Jacob and his 
household descend into Egypt, xliii — xlv. 

1786. Jacob dies, 147 y., xlvii. 28. 

1732. Joseph dies, 110 y., I. 26. 

1666. Moses born. 

1626. Moses, 40 y., flees to Midian, Acts vii. 30. 

1546. 10 Nisan, 13-14 April, passage of the Jordan : circum- 
cision at Gilgal, passover 14 Nisan, 17-18 Apr. siege of 
Jericho, 7 days : war with Ai : convocation on Mount 
Ebal, perhaps at Pentecost. Peace with Gibeon : con- 



448 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

federacy of the five kings of the south ; their defeat i 
after which, in one campaign, Makkedah, Libnah. 
Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, are taken and de- 
stroyed : thus the south is conquered. 
B. c. 1545. Jabin of Hazor and the other kings of the north are 
I defeated in a battle at Merom. The north is conquered, 

to This war lasted a long time. 

1540. In 1540, after the return to Gilgal, the separate wars begin, 
viz. those in which the tribes were to take possession 
and exterminate the remainder of the Canaanites, espe- 
cially the Anakim. " They consulted the Loed, saying, 
Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to 
fight against them? And the Lord said, Judah shall 
go up first." Judg. i. 1, 2. Caleb claims Hebron, Josh, 
xiv. 13. The battle in Bezek, Judg. i. 4-7. Jerusalem 
is taken and burnt, v. 8: thence the army, commanded 
by Caleb, goes to the highlands ; Hebron and Debir are 
taken, ib. 9 AT. Josh. xv. 14 fT. — Meanwhile Joshua is 
exterminating the Anakim and other Canaanites from 
the highlands of Israel, Josh. xi. 23 fF. — Thus the sub- 
jugation of the land is complete, with the exception of 
the parts noted xiii. 2-6. 

1539. The convocation at Shiloh ; the Tabernacle erected : the 
land divided among the seven tribes, the boundaries of 
Judah and Joseph having been first defined, xviii. xix. 
The cities of refuge and of the Levites are assigned : 
the transjordanic tribes dismissed, xx — xxii. 
Ab. 1516. Joshua, 110 years old, holds a convocation of the whole 
nation [at Shiloh, xxiii.] in which he delivers his part- 
ing charge : the convocation assembles again at She- 
chem, and renews the covenant. Joshua dies. 

The Angel of the Lord rebukes the people at Bochim, 

A period Judg. ii. 1-5. 

of The people served the Lord all the days of the elders who 

about outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of 

30 years. the Lord that he did for Israel, ii. 7. " All that gene- 
ration died, and there arose another generation after 
them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works 
which he had done for Israel," ib. 10. *' The children 
of Israel did evil," &c. iii. 7. 

1486. The first servitude ; Chushan Rishathaim of Mesopo- 
tamia, 8 years, ib. 8. 

1478. The first judge ; Othniel s^f Kenaz, v. 9. The land 
had rest 40 years, v. 11. 

1438. The second servitude ; Eglon of Moab, 18 years, v. 14. 

1420. The second judge ; Ehud, v. 16. Rest, 80 years ; during 
which time, after the death of Ehud, the third judge 
was Shamgar. 

1340. The third servitude, Jabin of Canaan, 20 years, iv, 3. 

1320. The fourth judge, Barak, 40 years, v. 21. 

1280. The fourth servitude, the Midianites, 7 years, vi. 1. 

1273. The fifth judge, Gideon, 40 years, viii. 28. 

1233. Abimelech reigns, 3 years, ix. 22. 

1230. The sixth judge. Tola, 23 years, x. 1.* 

1207. The seventh judge, Jair, 22 years, v. 3. 

1185. The fifth servitude, Philistines atid Ammonites, 18 y. 
V. 7. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 449 

B. c. 1167. The eighth judge, Jephthah, 6 years, xii. 7. 
1161. The ninth judge, Ibzan, 7 years, v. 9. 
[1157. Eli, high-priest, 40 years.] 
1154. The tenth judge, Elon, 10 years, v. 11. 
1144. The eleventh judge, Abdon, 8 years, v. 14. 
1136. The sixth servitude, Philistines, 40 years, xiii. 1. 

The twelfth judge, Samson, 20 years, xv. 20. The 
birth of Samson was announced during a time of Philis- 
. . tine oppression, xiii. 5, that is, while the Philistines 

were oppressing the south and west, and the Ammonites 
the east, x. 7. At the beginning of the sixth servitude 
he might be between 20 and 30 years old. 
1117. Autumn. The ark is taken, Eli dies. Somewhat earlier, 
Samson is taken : the ark is in captivity 7 months, 
/ restored in the days of wheat-harvest, 1 Sam. vi. 1, 13 

(hence the time of capture is defined). The return of 
the ark must have preceded Samson's death and the 
great overthrow of the lords of the Philistines, Per- 
haps the great sacrifice to Dagon, in Gaza, besides its 
connexion with the rejoicing on account of the capture 
of Samson, Judg. xvi. 23, may have been intended as a 
celebration of the deliverance from the plagues, 1 Sam. 
V. vi. 
1096. Probably at Passover (or Pentecost), the day of 

the deliverance at Mizpeh. Samuel begins to 
judge Israel. 
1091- Ishbosheth born: Jonathan, older. 

1086-1079. David born in one of these years. 

1070-1063. In one of these years, Saul, previously anointed 

and elected, then rejected, is, after his vic- 
tory over the Ammonites (xij, solemnly re- 
elected. The time was about Pentecost, 
xii. 17. 
3d of Saul. War against the Philistines, xiii — xv. 

4th ? Saul sent against Amalek : is proved, and being 

found wanting, is rejected. 

David is anointed by Samuel at Bethlehem ; is 

sent for to be minstrel to Saul, xvi. 

(After David's return home) the Philistines 

before 1066-1059 come out to war at Shochoh : David slays Go- 
liath, xvii. 

— — David at Saul's court, hated by Saul : he comes 

to Samuel xviii, xix, finally quits the court of 
Saul, and goes to the priest Ahimelech at 
Nob : the same day to Achish at Gath, xx. 
xxi : thence to the cave at AduUam, where he 
gathers a company, xxii. 1, 2: pursued by 
Saul, who slays Ahimelech and the priests ; 
Abiathar escapes to David ; D. defeats the 
Philistines at Keilah (about harvest) : flees to 
Ziph : thence to Engedi, xxiii : spares Saul's 
life, who takes an oath of him and departs, 
xxiv. 

^ Samuel dies. David with Nabal, at the time 

of sheep-shearing. Saul again pursuing David 
1058, Winter. is a second time spared by him, and departs, 

29 



450 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



B. c. 1057. 

1056, Spring. 



1051. 



xxvi. David flees to Achish at Gath (16 
months before the death of Saul). 
David at Ziklag all this year. 
The Philistines make war. Saul at Endor : is 
defeated on the following day, and slays him- 
self. David reigns over Judah in Hebron, 7 
years 6 months, 2 Sam. ii. 11. 
Abner makes Ishbosheth, Saul's son, king over 
Israel : he reigns two years, ib. 10, then is 
assassinated, iv. 6. 
1049, Autumn. David anointed king of all the tribes, in Hebron : 

takes Jerusalem : smites the Philistines, v. : 
brings the ark from Kirjath-jearim, vi. 1 
Chron. xiii. 
David's victories, viii. 
The time of Absalom's rebellion must lie at least 9 years after the 
birth of Solomon. After Amnon's sin, Absalom waited two years 
before he took vengeance, xiii. 23 ; three years after this he spent in 
voluntary exile, ib. 38, and after his return, four years passed while he 
was stealing away the hearts of the people. Hence the time of the 
rebellion lies after 1036-9 = 1027 b. c, i. e. in one of the last ten years 
of David's reign. 

After the rebellion, the history notes a period of about four years: 
three years of the famine, xxi. ; 9 months and 20 days of the number- 
ing of the people, xxiv. 8. 



B. c. 1036-1032. 
after 1027. 



973 



In one of these years Solomon is born. 

Absalom's rebellion. 

The famine, three years. 

The numbering of the people. 

David's preparation for the Temple, 1 Chron. 
xxii. 

Adonijah's rebellion. Solomon is anointed and 
proclaimed king. 

David dies. 

4th year of Solomon begins. 
2 Zif. (20 Apr.) Solomon began to build *'in the month Zif, 

which is the 2d month," 2 Kings vi. 1, " in 
the 2d day of the 2d month," 2 Chron. iii. 2. 

11th year of Solomon begins. 

*' At the feast in the month Ethanim, which is 
the 7th month," the Temple is dedicated : the 
feast lasted 14 days in all ; i. e. the feast of 
Tabernacles was followed by the feast of De- 
dication, 7 days more, 2 Kings viii, 2, 65, QQ : 
hence the Temple was finished, i. e. completed 
and dedicated on the 1st of the month Bui, 
which is the 8th month, vi. 38. 



The years b. c. and m. r. bear 
date from 1 Nisan. The 1st 
of Jeroboam, bears date from 
some point in the year pre- 
ceding the 1 Nisan of 1 Re- 
hoboam. 

Shishak Jc. of Egypt invades Je- 
rusalem, 1 K. xiv. 25. 2 Chr. 
xii.2. 



1018-7. 

1016 Autumn. 
1013, 1 Nisan. 



1006, 1 Nisan. 
Tabernacles. 
(14 Oct.) 



B.C. 


JE.R. 


Judab. 


Israel. 


978 




last y. of Solo- 


1 Jeroboam, 


977 
976 


1 
2 


mon. 
1 Rehoboam 
2 


1 2 

2-3 



^^ 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



451 



B.C. 
961 

960 
959 
958 



957 
956 



955 
944 



M.R. 



Judah. 



Israel. 



934 
933 



899 

898 



17 17 Rehoboam 17-18 Jeroboam. 



18 1 Abijam 

19 2 

20 1 Asa 



21 
22 



2 
3 



23 4 
34 15 



44 25 

45 26 



932 46 27 



931 


47 


28 


928 


50 


31 


927 
926 


51 
52 


32 
33 


921 


57 


38 


920 

918 


58 
60 


39 
41 


917 


61 


1 


916 
915 


62 
63 


2 
3 



18-19 
lP-20 
20-21 



21-1 Nadab. 
1-2 N. 1 Baasha. 



1-2 Baasha. 
12-13 



22-23 

23-24 B. = 1 Elah. 



War with Jeroboam all the r. of 
Rehoboam. 

Abijam carries on the war with 
Jeroboam, 1 K. xv. 7. His 
miraculous victory is related 
2 C. xiii. The power of Je- 
roboam is prostrated. 

Baasha slew Nadab and exter- 
minated the house of Jero- 
boam in 3 Asa, 1 K. xv. 28. 

War between Asa and Baasha. 

Zerah, the Ethiopian, invades 
Judah, and is miraculously 
discomfited. The great re- 
formation in Asa's 15th year 
(3d month) followed by ten 
years of rest and prosperity. 



1-2 Elah = 1 Zimri. 

= 10mri,> 

Tibni J 

1-2 Omri and Tibni. 



5-Q Omri (1-2) 
6-7 — 2-3 



11-12 



902 76 16 — 



79 19 

80 20 



Baasha in the 26th of Asa [and 
last 5'ear of his own reign] 
recommences open hostilities 
by fortifying Ramah. Asa, 
by a league with Ben-hadad, 
diverts him from his purpose. 
The Syrians invade Israel and 
make conquests. Baasha dies, 
after a reign of 24y. [currently 
and is succeeded by Elah, in 
26 Asa, who reigns 2 y. [cur- 
rent] 1 K. xvi. 8, and in 27 
Asa is slain by Zimri, who 
exterminates all the House of 
Baasha, but reigns only 7 days, 
xvi. 15. Omri and Tibni, 
rival kings, xvi. 21, till 31 

4-5 ,1 Omri sole Asa, when Tibni dies, and 

Omri reigns over all Israel. 

Omri reigned 6 years in Tirzah, 
1 K. xvi. 23, (9,32-926) . Then 
founded Samaria, ib. 

Reigned 12 y. [current] in all, 
-1 Ahab ib. Ahab succ. 38 Asa, v. 29. 

Asa diseased in his feet, 2 Ch. 
xvi. 12, and died after a reign 
of 41 y. 1 K. XV. 9. 

Jehoshaphat succ. 4 Ahab, 
xxii. 42. 

Jehoshaphat sends Levites to 
teach Judah the Law, 1 Ch. 
xvii. 7-9, moved perhaps by 
the apostasy of Israel to Baal- 
ism, which may have begun 
at this time, 1 Ki. xvi. 31-33. 
JElijah the Tishbite, 1 K. xvii. 
ff. At the end of 3 years the 
national worship is restored. 

19-20 Ben-hadad besieges Samaria, 

and is defeated. Ahab spares 
him, 1 K. XX. (3 years before 
Ahab's last year, xxii. 1.) 
Naboth the Jezreelite, xxi. 

Ahab slain at Ramoth-Gilead, 
xxii., after a reign of 22 y. 



1-2 
3-4 

4-5 

5-6 
6-7 



(7-8) 



22 A.-l Ahaziah. 
1-2 Ahaziah. 



452 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



B. C. M. R. Judah. 



Israel. 



897 81 21 Jehoshaphat 2 A.-l Joram s. Ahab. 



896 82 22 
89:^ 85 25 



892 S^Q IJorams.J. 



1-2 
4-5 



5-6 



885 93 8 J.=lAhaziah 12 J.-l Jehu. 



884 94 Usurpation, 6 y. 1-2 Jehu. 



878 100 1 Joash 
857 121 22 

856 122 23 



7-8 

23 J.-l Jehoahaz. 

1-2 Jehoahaz. 



Icomplete'], xvi. 29. Ahaziah 
succeeds and reigns 2 y. Incom- 
plete^. Jehoshaphat reproved 
by Jehu son of Hanani, again 
reforms Judah, 2 Ch. xix. 
Confederacy of Moab,Ammon 
and other tribes against Je- 
hoshaphat. Miraculous over- 
throw, 2 Ch. XX. Elijah: fire 
from heaven, 2 K. i. Joram 
s. of Ahab, succ. Ascension 
of Elijah, 2 K. ii. Moab re- 
bels, and is defeated, ib. iii.,^ 
by the conjoint forces of Is- ' 
rael, Judah, and Edom. The 
King of Moab raises the siege 
by sacrificing the son of the 
king of Edom, ib. (comp. 
Amos ii. 1 ) 

Elisha's miracles, 2 Kin. iv. v. 
Ben-hadad besieges Samaria: 
the famine, the plenty, vi. vii. 
Seven years of famine begins, 
viii. 

Joram s. J. succ, son-in-law of 
Ahab, an idolater. In I'irael, 
7 years of famine continue, 2 
Kin. viii. After which, Elisha 
is at Damascus, ib. Hazael 
murders Ben-hadad. In Ju- 
dah, Joram, s. J., slays all his 
brethren, 2 C. xxi. 4. Edom 
and Libnah revolt, 2 K. viii. 
20. He receives a writing 
from Elijah the prophet, 2 C. 
xxi. Philistines and Ethio- 
pian Arabs take Jerusalem, 
and take captive Joram's 
wives and sons except Jeho- 
ahaz = Ahaziah. 

Joram of Judah dies of an hor- 
rible disease, ib. 

Jehu rebels against Joram s. of 
Ahab and kills him. Ahaziah, 
being on a visit to Joram at 
Jezreel, is slain by Jehu. On 
the death of Ahaziah, Atha- 
LiAH destroyed all the seed 
royal except Joash, who was 
secreted by his aunt Jeho- 
sheba. Athaliah's usurpation 
lasted 6 years. Hazael op- 
presses Israel x. 32. 

JoASH began to reign 7 Jehu, 
2K. xii. 1. 

Jehu r. 28 y. 2 K. x. 36. Suc- 
ceeded by Jehoahaz in the 
23d of Joash, 2 K. xiii. 1. 

Joash repairs the Temple, xii. 
4-16. Hazael and his son still 
oppress Israel, 2 K. xiii. Sy- 
rians take Gath, and are di- 
verted from Jerusalem by a 
present of the Temple- trea- 
sures, xii. 17. Joash does 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE, 



453 



Bt C* iEa R> 



Judah. 



840 138 39Joash 
839 139 40 



833 140 (41 J.) 1 Ama- 
ziah 



Israel, 



17 Je.-l Joash. 
1-2 Joash. 



2-3 



825 153 14 
824 154 15 
810 168 29 



809 169 lAzariah) 
= Uzziah ) 



is- 
le J.-l Jeroboam. 
14-15 Jeroboam. 
15-16 



783 195 27 

772 206 38 
771 207 39 



41 Interregnum, or 
Anarchy, eleven 
years to 712 b. c. 

Zechariah. 

Shallum, 1 Menahem. 



well all the days of Jehoiada, 
xii. 2 ; but after the death of 
Jehoiada he falls into apos- 
tasy, 2 C. xxiv. 15. 

Joash (of Israel) succ. in 39 
Joash, 2 K. xiii. 10. Martyr- 
dom of Zechariah son of Je- 
hoiada, 2 C. xxiv. 20. 

Syrians take and spoil Jerusa- 
lem, ib. 23, at the end of the 
year (i. e. after the death of 
Zechariah). Joash, left dis- 
eased on his bed, is slain by 
conspirators, i6. 25,2 K. xii. 19, 
21. Amaziah succ. 2 Joash, 
xiv. 1. Israel, brought to 
extremity by Syrian oppres- 
sion in the r. of Jehoahaz, 
begins to recover. Elisha 
dying, promises Joash three 
victories over Syria. The 
miraculous resuscitation at 
Elisha's grave, 2 K. xiii. 
Amaziah hires mercenaries 
from Israel for a war upon 
Edom, but dismisses them on 
a reproof from a prophet : 
the Israelites are incensed, 2 
C. XXV. Amaziah is success- 
ful against Edom. He chal- 
lenges Joash, is conquered, 
and Jerusalem is spoiled, ib. 
and 2 K. xiv. 

Joash d. Jeroboam succ. 15 
Joash, 2 K. xiii. 23. 

Amaziah outlives Joash 15 y. 2 
K. xiv. 17, T. 29 y. v. 1. 

Uzziah. 

The revival of prosperity in Is- 
rael and Judah. Jeroboam 
recovers the whole territory 
of the 10 tribes, according to 
the prediction of Jonah, 2 K. 
xiv. 25, and Uzziah the whole 
territory of Judah, 2 C. xxvi. 
1-15. I Joel prophesies in Ju- 
dah, Hosea and Amos in Is- 
rael.] 



Zechahiah b. 38 Uzziah, r. 6 
months, the last of the house 
of Jehu, slain by Shallum, 
2 K. XV. 8, who began 39 
Uzziah, r. 1 month, and was 
slain by Menahem, ib. 13 17» 
Pul^ king of Assyria, invades 
Israel, ib. 19. In Judah, Uz- 
ziah, invading the priest's 
office, is smitten with leprosy, 
2 C. xxvii. 16. Isaiah begins 
to prophesy in the last year 
of Uzziah. 



454 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



B. C. JE. R. Judah. 

760 218 50Uzziah 
759 219 51 — 



758 220 52 



757 221 1 Jotham 
742 236 16 

741 237 lAhaz 



Israel. 

10 M.-l Pekahjah. 
1^2 Pekahjah. 

2 P.-l Pekah. 

1-2 Pekah. 
16-17 

17^18 ■ 



740 238 
739 239 



2 
3 



18-19 
19-20 



738 240 4 20 

(= 20 Jotham, 
2 K. XV. 30). 



730 248 12Ahaz 1 Hoshea. 

727 251 15-^ — 3-^4— 



726 252 IHezekiah 4-5 — — 

725 253 2 — »-— » 5-Q Pekah. 



Pekahjah began 50 Uzziah, r. 
2 y. slain by Pekah. 2 K. xv. 
23-26. 

Pekah b. 52 Uzziah, r. 20 y. 
ib. 27. 

Jotham b. 2 Pekah, ib. 32. 
[^Micah prophesies concern- 
ing Samaria and Jerusalem.] 

Ahaz b. 17 Pekah, 2 K. xvi. 1. 
Rezin k. of Syria and Pekah 
of Israel form a confederacy 
against him, and invade Ju- 
dah with intent to besiege 
Jerusalem ; it did not come, 
however, to a siege, 2 K. xvi. 

5. Isai. vii. 1-9. 

After this joint-campaign. Rezin 
recovered Elath to Syria and 
expelled the Jews, 2 K. xvi. 

6. and in that or a subsequent 
expedition " smote Ahaz and 
carried a great multitude of 
captives to Damascus," 2 C. 
xxviii. 5. Pekah likewise 
"smote him with a great 
slaughter, for he slew in Ju- 
dah 120,000 in one day, which 
were all valiant men".... 
"And the children of Israel 
carried away captive 200,000 
women, sons and daughters :" 
upon the remonstrance of the 
prophet Oded, the captives 
were honourably restored, i6. 
6-15. Edom and the Philis- 
tines invade Judah at the 
same time, ib. 17-19. 

Ahaz sends to Assyria (T. Pile- 
ser) for help, ib. 16, 2 K. xvi. 

7. T. Pil. invades Syria and 
takes Damascus, ib. 9, also 
Israel, and takes Gilead, Gali- 
lee, all Naphtali, &c. ib. xv. 
29 : then Pekah is conspired 
against and slain by Hoshea, 
ib. 30. 

Hoshea "did evil... -but not 
as the kings of Israel which 
were before him." Shalma- 
neser invades him and makes 
him tributary, 2 K. xvii. 1, 2. 

Hezekiah b. 3 Hoshea. 

Hezekiah, having cleansed the 
Temple and re.<3tored religion 
in the first month, commands 
a solemn Passover to be 
holden in the second month, 
to which he invites Israel as 
well as Judah, 2 C.xxix.xxx. 
" Divers of Asher, Manasseh 
and Zebulun humbled them- 
selves and came to Jerusa- 
lem." About this time Ho- 
shea revolted, and allied him- 
self with So (= Sevechus) k. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



455 



B.C. iE.R. Judah. 



Israel. 



723 255 4 Hezekiah 7-S Hoshea. 



721 257 6 



9 



of Eg^'pt : " Shalmaneser shut 
him up and bound him in pri- 
son," 2 K. xvii. 4, then in- 
vaded all Israel, and besieged 
Samaria, 4 Hez. =7 Ho. ib. 5, 
xviii. 10, look it in 6 Hez.= 9 
Ho. ib. 10, and carried away 
Israel to Assyria. End of the 
kingdom of Israel. 



SUMMARY OF THE PRECEDING STATEMENTS. 



Judah : from 1 Nisan. 



Israel : from an earlier epoch. 



Rehoboam 

Abijam 

Asa 

Jehoshaphat 

Joram 

Ahaziah 

Athaliah 

Joash 

Amaziah 

Uzziah 

Jotham 

Ahaz 

Hezekiah 

Sum 



17 

2 = 3 current. 
41 
25 

7 = 8 current. 

1 

6 

40 
29 
52 
16 
15 =16 current. 

6 



257 



720 258 7 Hezekiah. 
to 
713 265 14 



712 266 15 — 

697 281 1 Manasseh. 

642 336 lAmon. 

640 338 1 Josiah 

636 342 5 

628 350 13-=- 



Jeroboam 

Nadab 

Baasha 

Elah 

Zimri, &c. 

Omri 

Ahab 

Ahaziah 

Joram 

Jehu 

Jehoahaz 

Joash 

Jeroboam 

[Interregnum] 
Zechariah, &c. 
Menahem 
Pekahjah 
Pekah 

[Interregnum] 
Hoshea 

Sum 



21 = 22 current. 

1= 2 

23 = 24 

1= 2 • 

1 

11 = 12 

22 

2 
12 
28 
17 
16 
41 
11 

1 
10 

2 
20 

8 

9 

257 



Hezekiah successful against the Philistines. Rebels 
against Assyria. Sennacherib invades Judah, and, at 
first, is pacified by a tribute. Besieges Lachish, 
sends Rabshakeh to incite the Jews of Jerusalem to 
revolt, 2 K. xviii. Isai. xxxvi. Besieges Libnah : 
Tirhakah comes against him : he sends a letter to 
Hez. whom Isaiah comforts. That night, Senna- 
cherib's host is miraculously overthrown, ib. 

Hez. illness and miraculous recover^' : 15 y. added to 
his life : Merodach Baladan's embassy. Isaiah re- 
proves Hez. and foretells the Babylonian judgment, 
2 K. XX. Isai. xxxviii. ix. 2 C. xxxii. 

Manasseh reigns 55 y. : goes an awful length in apos- 
tasy, 2 K. xxi. 1-18. 2 C. xxxiii. 1-10. The captains 
of Assyria take M. prisoner to Babylon : returning 
thence, he repents and reforms, 2 C. ib. 11-17. 

Amon, r. 2 years : restored idolatry : slain by conspi- 
racy, 2 K. xxi. 19. 2 C. xxxiii. 21. 

Josiah began to reign at 8 y. old, 2 K. xxii. 1. 2 C. 
xxxiv. 1. 

At 12 y. old he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem 
from the high places and idols, 2 C. xxxiv. 3 ff. 

{Jeremiah begins to prophesy.] 



456 HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY, 

B. c. m. R. 

623 355 38 Josiah. After purging the land, ib. 8, in his 18 y., ?&., and 2 K. 

xxii. 3, he begins to repair the Temple : the book of 
the Law is discovered : the great Reformation and 
solemn Passover, 2 K. xxii. 10 ff. xxiii. 21 ff. 2 C. 
xxxiv. XXXV. 1-18. 

610 368 31 ■ Josiah, as an ally of the king of Assyria, joins battle 

Avith Pharaoh-Necho and is slain in the plain of Me- 

giddo, 2 K. xxiii. 29. 2 C. xxxv. 20 (at Hadadrim- 

IJehoahaz. mon, Zech. xii. 11). Jehoahaz (Shallum, Jer. xxii. 

10, 11) succeeding, reigns only 3 months, 2 K. xxiii. 

609 369 1 Jehoiakim. 3L Necho " pat him in bonds at Riblah in the land 

of Hamath, that he should not be king in Jerusalem." 
2 K. xxiii. 33. Jehoahaz was taken into Egypt (2K. 
and 2 C. and Jer. u s.), and Pharaoh gave tne throne 
to Eliakim, changing nis name to Jehoiakim. 

606 372 4 Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judea. Beginning of the 

seventy years' captivity. 



J. C. A. D. 

1 4. The birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the 4th 

year before a. d., and the 4000th year after the Creation. 

Antipater returns from Rome ; is accused and convicted 
of a design to poison Herod ; put to death by order of 
Herod. 

Herod dies five days after Antipater. 

Archelaus appointed king of Judea by the will of Herod. 

1 3. Return of Jesus Christ out of Egypt ; he goes to dwell 

at Nazareth. 

2 1. The Vulgar Era, or Anno Domini ; the 4th year of Jesus 

Christ, the first of which has but eight days. 
17 14. Death of the emperor Augustus : reigned 57 years 5 

months and 4 days. 
Tiberius succeeds him : reigns 22 years 6 months and 
28 days. 
23 20. Tiberius expels from Italy all who profess the Jewish 

religion, or Egyptian superstitions. 
Pilate sent governor into Judea. 

31 28. He attempts to bring the Roman colours and ensigns into 

Jerusalem, but is opposed by the Jews. 

32 29. John the Baptist begins to preach. 

35 32. Missions of the apostles into several parts of Judea. 

John the Baptist slain by order of Herod, at the instiga- 
tion of Herodias, in the 17th year of Tiberius. 

36 33. At the beginning of the 36th year of Jesus Christ, Lazarus 

falls sick and dies: Jesus comes from beyond Jordan, 
and raises him to hfe again. 

Jesus retires to Ephraim on the Jordan, to avoid the 
snares and malice of the Jews of Jerusalem. 

He comes to Jerusalem to be present at his last Pass- 
over. 

Institutes the Lord's Supper ; is betrayed and crucified. 
His resurrection and appearance to many. Ascension into 
heaven, and the miraculous efTusion of the Holy Spirit. 
40 37. Pilate ordered into Italy. 

Tiberius dies ; Caius Caligula succeeds. ■ 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 457 

J. C. A. D. 

41. After Passover. Dispersion of the Apostles. About this 

time St. Mathew's Gospel. 
43. SS. Barnabas and Paul at Antioch. 
44 41. Passover. Imprisonment of 8t. Peter, preceded by the 

martyrdom of St. James, son of Zebedee. SS. Barnabas 
and Paul at Jerusalem, (Gal. ii. 1.) 
Pentecost. Mission of Barnabas and Paul to the Gentiles. 
Caius Caligula dies, Claudius succeeds him. Agrippa 
persuades him to accept the empire offered him by the 
army. Claudius adds Judea and Samaria to Agrippa's 
dominions. 
45. Autumn? Barnabas and Paul at Antioch. St. Peter, 
Gal. ii. 

47. End (or 48 he^in). Council at Jerusalem. 

48. Spring. St. Paul's second circuit in Asia : first in Galatia. 
48-52. Epistle to Galatians. 

49. Spring. St. Paul called into Macedonia: residence of 

some weeks at Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea. Athens. 
Jews expelled from Rome early in this year : 20,000 
Jews lose their lives at the Passover. St. Paul at Co- 
rinth, about Midsummer. First Epistle to Thessa- 
lonians. 
49-50. Second Epistle to Thessalonians. 

50. end or 51 leg. St. Paul before Gallic. 

51. Passover or Pentecost. St. Paul at Jerusalem : short stay 

at Antioch : third tour in Asia. 

51, end or 52 heg. St. Paul at Ephesus. 
51-54. St. Peter at Corinth and thence to Rome, in one of these 
years. 

54. Passover. St. Paul sends Timothy and Erastus before to 
Macedonia and Corinth : remains at Ephesus until Pen- 
tecost. Uproar of the artisans. Departure from Ephe- 
sus, tour through Macedonia, all the summer, first 
Epistle to Corinthians. 
Summer or Autumn, Second Epistle to Corinthians. 

54. End. St. Paul winters at Corinth, three months : jour- 

neys overland to Philippi. 

55. Passover : at Troas. 
Pentecost : at Jerusalem. 
Autumn : voyage to Rome. 
Winter : in Malta. 
Epistle to Romans. 

^G. Spring. Arrival at Rome. 
57 54. Claudius the emperor dies, being poisoned by Agrippina. 

Nero succeeds him. 
58. End of the two years noted by St. Luke. 

St. Luke's Gospel and the Acts, Epistles to the Ephe- 
sians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. 
58-61. Probable time of St. Peter's First Epistle, and St. Mark's 

Gospel. 
58-64. First Epistles to Timothy and Titus. St. Jude? 
61. Martyrdom of St. James. John's Gospel. 
64 61. The Jews build a wall which hinders Agrippa from look- 

ing within the temple. 
Second Epistle to Timothy. Second Epistle of St. Peter. 



458 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 

J. C. A. D. 

66 63. Albinus, successor of Felix, arrives in Judea. 

67 64. Agrippa takes the high-priesihood from Jesus, son of 

Gamaliel, and gives it to Matthias, son of Theophilus. 

Nero sets fire to the city of Rome ; throws the blame on 
the Christians, several of whom are put to death. 
69 66, Disturbances at Caesarea, and at Jerusalem. 

The Jews rise and kill the Roman garrison at Jerusalem. 

All the Jews of Scythopolis slain in one night. 

Cestius, governor of Syria, comes into Judea. 

He besieges the temple of Jerusalem ; retires ; is defeated 
by the Jews. 

The Christians of Jerusalem, seeing a war about to break 
out, retire to Pella, in the kingdom of Agrippa, beyond 
Jordan. 

Vespasian appointed by Nero for the Jewish war. 

Vespasian sends his son Titus to Alexandria ; comes him- 
self to Antioch, and forms a numerous army. 

Vespasian enters Judea ; subdues Galilee. 

Nero the emperor dies ; Galba succeeds hira. 

Galba dies ; Otho declared emperor. 

Otho dies ; ViteUius proclaimed emperor. 

Josephus set at liberty. 

73 70. Titus marches against Jerusalem to besiege it. 

Comes down before Jerusalem some days before the 
Passover. 

The factions unite at first against the Romans, but after- 
wards divide again. 

July 17, the perpetual sacrifices cease in the temple. 

The Romans become masters of the court of the Gentiles, 
and set fire to the galleries. 

A Roman soldier sets the temple on fire, notwithstanding 
Titus commands the contrary. 

The last enclosure of the city taken. 

John of Giscala and Simon son of Gioras conceal them- 
selves in the common sewers. 

74 71. Titus demolishes the temple to its very foundation. 

He also demolishes the city, reserving the towers of Hip- 
picos, Phazael, and Mariamne. In this siege and over- 
throw, a million of lives are said to have been lost. 

Titus returns to Rome with his father Vespasian ; they 
triumph over Judea. 



70 


67. 


71 


68. 


72 


69. 



INDEX OF TEXTS 



R FERRED TO IN THIS WORK. 



ii: 4 . 
ii: 10 . 
iv : 8, 18 
x: 7 
x: 7, 9 
x: 11, 12 
x: 13, 22 
x: 15-19 
x: 18 
x: 19 
xi: 31 
xii: 5 
xii: 6 
xii : 8 
XX : 1 
xxi: 14 
xxi : 31 
xxii : 19 
xxiii : 
xxiv : 
XXV : 3 
xxvi: 1-33 
xxvi : 23 
xxvii : 
xxvii: 43 
xxviii I 
xxviii : 1-20 
xxviii : 10 
xxviii; 10 
xxix: 4 
xxxi: 49 
xxxii: 30 
xxxiii : 
xxxiv I 
XXXV : 
XXXV : 27 
XXXV : 28 
xxxix: 
xl: 



GENESIS. 



166 



Page 18 
19 
21 
18, 264 
18 
300 
47 
127 
300 
128 
127 
127 
198 
62 
271 
103 
57 
57 
58 
58 
257 
27] 
57 
61 
54 
62 
63, 270 
54 
57 
54 
208, 219 
64 
63 
65 
62 
61 
65 
65 
65 



xii: 


65 


xli: 45 


. 330 


xlii: 26 


78 


xlii ; xliii ; xliv : 


66 


xliii : 24 . 


78 


xlvi : 1 


57 


xlvi: 34 


67 


xlvii-1 : 


66, 78 


xlvii: 11 


67 


xlviii : 7 . 


. 222 


EXODUS 




x • >/ . * « 


78 


xii: 37 


71 


xiv : 2 


71 


xiv: 21,22 


76 


XV : 1-22 . 


79, 127 


XV : 22, 25 . 


79 


xv: 27 


79 


xvi : . . 


80 


xvii: 1 


80 


xvii : 14 , 


. 222 


xix: 1 


99 


xix: 2 . . . 


. 97 


xxi: 13 . , . 


. 197 


xxxiii : 6 . 


98 


xxxv : 3 


98 


NUMBERS 


3. 


ii: 34 


. 107 


ix: 15, 16 . 


. 102 


x: 11-36 . 


. 103 


x: 12-18 . 


. 107 


x: 29-32 . 


. 102 


X : 33 . . . 


. 107 


xi : . . . 


. 106 


xi: 3 


• . 107 


xi: 4-34 . 


. 108 


xi : 5 


67 


xi : 31, 35 . 


. 108 



(459) 



460 



HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



xii: 


• 


• 


. 112 


xxvii : 


t 






198 


xii : 16 . . . . 115 


xxvii : 11-26 




168 


xiii: 22 . 






320 


xxviii : 1-42 




162 


xiii : 26 . 






115 


xxviii: 36, 48 . 




328, 268 


xiii: 29 . 






116 


xxix: 23-35 




162 


xiv : 40-45 






117 


xxxii: 49 . 




126 


xx: 






119 


xxxiii : 




. 126 


xx: 28 






120 


xxxiii : 2 . 




103 


xxi : 2 






123 


xxxiv: 1 . 




126 


xxi : 4-10 . 






121 




xxi : 1 1 






126 


JOSHUA. 


xxi : 13 . 






122 


iv: 19 . . . . 165 


xxi : 18 . 






318 


V : . 






163 


xxii : 1 . 






121 


vi : . 






163 


xxii ; xxiii ; xxii 


J : . 




124 


viii : 1-30 . 






165 


xxiv : 11 . 






326 


viii: 30-35 






166 


XXV : 






122, 124 


viii: 30-35 






198 


xxvii : 16, 17 






125 


x: 3-31 . 






270 


xxxi : 1-25 






124 


x: 11 








173 


xxxii : 37 . 






123 


x: 12 








172 


xxxiii : 7 . 






71 


x: 12, 13 








170 


xxxiii: 8 . 






76 


x: 41 








174 


xxxiii : 10, 11 , 






80 


x: 








59 


xxxiii: 14-24 






126 


xi : 16 








174 


xxxiii : 37, 38 . 






119 


xi: 17 








182 


xxxiii : 44-47 






126 


xi: 21-23 








176 


xxxiii : 48 . 






122 


xii : 7 






182 


xxxiv : 2-12 






128 


xii: 17-24. 






177 


xxxiv: 5 . 






129 


xiii : 4 






214 


XXXV : 9-35 






197 


xiii : 5 






300 




xiii : 15-25 






189 


DEUTERONOMY. 


xiii: 15-31 






128 


i: 2 . . . . 115, 110 


xiii : 26, 30 






64 


i: 6 . 




100 


xiii : 26 






219 


i : 40 . ' , 






121 


XV : 5-10 








188 


i: 44 






118 


XV : 7, 8 








243 


ii: 8 






121 


XV : 22 








260 


ii: 26 






123 


xv: 35 








270 


iii : . . 






112 


XV : 39 








219 


iii : 23-26 . 






125 


XV : 47-55 








174 


iv: 10, 15 . 






100 


XV : 








128 


iv : 46 






123 


xvi: 1 








62 


v: 2 






100 


xvi : 








188 


vii: 12-14 






162 


xvii: 7-10, 11 






188 


ix: 22 




- 


107 


xvii: 16 






133 


x: 6 






119 


xviii : 1-10 






191 


xi: 8, 5 . 






162 


xviii : 13, 22 






62 


xi: 10 






67 


xviii: 16, 17 






243 


xi : 14 






160 


xviii : 23 . 






381 


xviii : 1 






167 


xviii : 26 . 






218 


xviii : 16 . 






100 


xix: 1-9 . 






187 


xix : 1 






100 


xix: 10-16 






188 


xix : 1-13 . 






197 


xix : 15 






222 


xxiii : 3-6 . 






124 


xix: 24-31 






188 


XXV : 18 . 






222 


xix: 29,36 








213 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



461 



xix: 30 . 






214 


vii : 5, 16 , 








218 


xix: 31-39 






189 


vii: 12 








213 


xix: 36-38 






178 


vii: 16 








62, 165 


xix: 38 . 






378 


viii : 2 








57 


xix: 40-48 






188 


ix : 4 








220 


XX : 7-9 . 






197 


X : 2, 3 








220 


xxi : 7, 14 . 






59 


x : 8 








165 


xxi: 11 






192 


xi : 








220 


xxi: 18 . 






194 


xiii: 








221 


xxi: 25 






195 


xiii: 17 








381 


xxiii : 






198 


xiv : 1-48 








221 


xxiv: 28 . 






198 


XV : 








222 


xxiv : 32 . 






169 


XV : 21, 33 








165 


xxxi : 






128 


xvii : 








215 




xvii : 1 








270 


JUDGES. 


xvii : 52 








206 


i: 22-26 .... 62 


xxi ; xxii : 


'9-20' 






228 


i: 31 




214 


xxii : 2 








232 


iii: 3 




300 


xxii : 3 






' 


219 


iii: 11-30 . 






205 


xxii : 5 








229 


iv : 6 






195 


xxiii : 1-13 






229 


iv: 12-24 . 






134 


xxiii : 13 . 






231 


iv; v: 






205 


xxiii: 13-18 






229 


v: 19 . 






182 


xxiii: 19-29 






230, 231 


vi : . . 




. , 


134 


xxiv : 1-4 






231 


vi: 33 






133 


xxiv-xxvi : 






231 


vi-ix : 






206 


XXV : 






231 


vi ; vii ; viii : 


, - , 




207 


XXV : 2-43 






103 


vii : 






134 


XXV : 7-16 






232 


vii: 24 






362 


xxvi : 






232 


ix: . 






169 


xxvii : 








233 


X : 1, 2 . 






207 


xxviii : 








233 


xi : 15 






208 


xxviii : 3 








215 


xi: 18 






122 


xxix : 








214, 234 


xi: 29 . 






219 


xxx: 


« 






234 


xii : 8 






208 


XXX : 27 


► t 






213 


xii : 10 






222 


xxx: 28 


• 






193 


xiii : 






208 


xxxi : 


■ i 






234 


xiv : 






208 




XV : 8 






209 


2 SAMUEL. 


xvi : 






209 


i: 17-27 .... 234 


xvii ; xviii : 






200 


i: 20 








215 


xix; xx: . 






202 


ii: 2-29 








235 


XX : 1 






218 


ii: 11 








59 


xx: 27 . 






62 


ii: 13 








172 


xxi : 1 






218 


ii: 19-32 . 








171 


xxi: 19-23 






192 


iii: 16 








236 




iii: 27 








59 


1 SAMUEL. 


iv: 2 








236 


i; ii; iii: . . . . 213 


iv: 12 








58 


i-iv : 






191 


v: 11 








252 


iv-vi : 






192 


v: 17-28 








236 


v: 10 






216 


vi : 








217, 237 


vi: 1-18 . 






216 


viii : 1 








215 


vi: 9 






194 


viii: 10 








299 



462 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



viii I 13 . 
ix : 

A m • • 

A • O t • 

x: 6 . . 

x: 15-19 . 

xi ; xii ; xiii ; xiv : 

XV : . . 

XV : 8 

xv: 19 

XV ; xvi; xvii: . 

xvi : 5 

xvii: 11 . 

xvii: 27 . 

xviii : 6 . 

XX : 8-12 . 

xxi : 14, 18, 19 . 

xxiii : 27 . 

xviii ; xix ; xx : 



i: 9 

iii: 5-15 
iv: 4-20 
iv: 13 
iv : 24 
v; vi ; vii 
vii: 13 
vii : 46 
viii : 65 
ix : 15 
ix: 15-19 
ix: 16, ]7 
ix: 17 
ix: 27 
xi: 29^ 
xii ; xiii : 
xii : 15 
xii: 29 
xiv: 2 
xiv : 15 
xiv : 25 
xiv: 30 
XV : 16-31 
XV : 17 
XV : 20 
xvi : 6-9 
xvi : 34 
xvii: 1-7 
xviii : 1-21 
xviii: 21-46 
xix: 1-8 . 
xix : 3 
xx: 1-21 . 
XX : 22-35 



1 KINGS. 



237 
239 
237 
164 

47 
240 
240 

59 

47 
215 
241 
236 

57 
239 

64 
171 
243 
194 
242 



243 
171 
260 
196 

261, 300 
252 
252 
64 
300 
181 
262 
195 
172 
252 
192 
62, 268 
192 
201 
192 
267 
270 
269 
272 
213 

201, 242 
273 
164 
276 
277 
278 
278 
57 
278 
279 



XX : 26-30 . 
xxi : 17-25 
xxii : 
xxii: 41-49 



20-22 

1-8 

8-38 

24 



ii: 1-18 

ii: 4, 5, 21 

ii: 15-22 

ii : 23-25 

iii: 

iii 

iv 

iv 

vi 

vi 

vii : 

viii : 1-15 

viii: 21, 22 

viii: 28 

viii: 29 

ix : 

ix: 27 

ix: 38 

x: 32, 33 

xiii : 14 

33 

8-11 

11, 12 

19 

21-29 

25 

19, 20 

29 

5 

6 

24 

26 

: 14 

: 14, 

. 34 

; xix 

8 

12 

13 

37 



2 KINGS. 



xiii : 
xiv: 
xiv: 
xiv : 
xiv: 
xiv : 
XV : 
XV : 
xvi: 
xvi : 
xvii : 
xvii: 
xviii 
xviii 
xviii 
xviii 
xix: 
xix : 
xix : 
xix : 



XX : 12 
xxi: 

xxii ; xxiii 
xxiii : 15 
xxiii : 29 
xxiii : 29, 
xxiii : 33 
xxiv : 1-6 
xxiv : 8-18 



29 



16 



33 



214 
280 
196 
280 



282 
164 
282 
282 
282 
319 
283 
283 
288 
288 
288 
288 

194, 289 
196, 280 

213 
196 
182, 290 
165 
290 
289 
128 
296 
194 
173 
297 
302 
306 

195, 242 
307 

41, 310 
310 
308 
270 
163 
314 
322 
194, 270 
54, 258 
314 

38 
310 
323 
323 

62 
134, 182 

68 
326 
324 
324 



INDEX OF TEXTS. 



463 



XXIV 

XXV : 
XXV : 
XXV : 
XXV : 
XXV : 
XXV : 
xxviii : 



18-20 
1-7 . 
8-21. 
22-25 
22-26 
26 . 
29 . 



1 CHRONICLES 
i: 19 
iv : 3, 32 
v: 26 
XV: 16 
xvi: 37-39 
xviii : 1 
xix: 6 
XX : 1-4 
XX : 4 
xxi: 4 
xxiv: 3-19 

2 CHRONICLES 
i: 1-13 
ii: 

iv: 17 
viii: 3, 4 
viii*: 8 
viii : 14 
viii : 18 
xi: 6 
xi: 8 
xi : 14 
xii: 1 
xii: 5-12 
xiii : 19 
XV : 9 
xvi : 1 
xvi: 4 
xvi: 7-14 
xviii : 
XX : 

xxi : 10 
XXV : 27 
xxvi : 
xxvi : 5, 6 
xxvi : 9, 10 
xxvi: 17-21 
xxviii : 5 . 
xxviii : 18 . 
xxix-xxxii : 
xxxii : 30 . 
xxxiii : 
xxxiii : 14 . 
XXXV : 



209, 



269, 
271, 



201, 



194, 



325, 



326 
326 
325 

218 
327 
326 

178 
280 



37 
209 

41 
195 
171 
215 

47 
240 
243 
195 
352 



171 

252 
64 
299 
300 
352 
121 
223 
215 
266 
127 
270 
381 
266 
213 
242 
273 
307 
280 
289 
173 
297 
324 
324 
326 
307 
194 
322 
244 
323 
244 
313 



XXXV : 22 . 
xxxvi : 22 . 



i: 1 



EZRA. 



i: 1-11 . 






i: 8-18 . 






ii: 2-64 . 






ii: 23 






ii: 28 






ii: 34 






ii : 63-67 . 






iv: 2 






iv: 9 






v: 13 . 






vi: 2-5 . 






vi: 3 






vi : 7 






vi ; vii ; viii : 






vii : 9 







vii: 7 
vii: 27 



ii: 11 



NEHEMIAH. 

• • « 

JOB. 

• • • 

PSALMS. 



Ixxii : 10 . 
Ixxviii : 11, 33 . 
Ixxxviii: 60 

ISAIAH 

ii: 13 

ii: 16 

vii: 1-9 

ix: 19-20 

x: 9 . . 311, 

x: 28 

x: 28-32 

xiii : 20, 21 

xiv : 24 

xiv: 29 

XV : 1 

XV : 2-4 

XV : 5-8 

XV : 9 

xvi : 1 

xviii : 1 

xix : 13 ; 

xix: 24 

XX : 1 

xxi: 2 

xxi: 11, 14, 16,17 



68, 134 
42 



42 
339 
340 
340 
194 
166 
164 
340 
347 

46 

42 
339 

42 

340 

341-2 

340 



340 
194 



47 



42 
320 
192 



314 

42 

307 

308 

313, 314 
166 
315 
53 
303 
127 
316 
317 
318 
319 
319 
319 
319 
127 
214 
320 

257, 321 



464 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



xxii: 6 
xxiii : 1 
xxvi : 
xxvii : 
xxix : 3-8 . 
xxx: 19-24 
xxxiv : 
xxxvii : 8 . 
xxxvii: 12 
xxxvii : 38 
xxxix: 3-8 
xlix : 12 . 



321 
42, 255, 321 
322 
322 
323 
162 
296 
194 
54, 258 
24 
324 
321 



JEREMIAH, 
i: 1 

ii: ]6 
ii: 16, 19 
iii: 3 
vii: 12-14 
vii: 31 
x: 9 
x: 18 
xi: 11 
Xii: 12 
xxii : 19 
XXV : 20 
XXV : 23 
xxvi : 30 
xxvii : 3-10 
xxvii : 6 
xxxi : 15 
xxxiv : 7 
XXXV : 
xxxvi : 30 
xxxix : 5 
xl-xliii ; 
xl: 6, 8 
xli : 5 
xliv : 1 
xlvi : 2 
xlvi: 9 
xlvi : 1 4 
xlvi: 19 
xlviii : 
xlviii : 3, 5 
xlviii : 21 
xlviii: 32 
xlix : 3 
xlix: 8 
xlix: 28-34 
I; Ii: 1-58 
Ii: 27 
Ii: 41 
Iii: 10 
Iii : 12 . 



194 
330 
329 
160 
192 
329 

42 
296 

45 
172 
324 
214, 216 
258 
324 
326 
192 
213 
173 

329, 330 
324 
326 
327 
219 
192 

330, 331 
313 

45 
330 

42 
333 
318 
194 
319 
334 
258 
334 
334 

38 
330 
326 
325 



Iii: 28 
liii : 30 
Ixvi: 19 



LAMENTATIONS. 



iv: 21 

EZEKIEL. 

xii : 13 

xvii : 10 

xvii : 13-15 

XXV : 9 

XXV : 13 

xxvi ; xxvii ; xxviii : 

xxvii : 10 

xxvii : 14 

xxvii : 16 

xxvii : 20 

xxvii : 23 

xxviii : 

xxix : 

xxix : 10 

xxix : 14 

xxx: 1, 4, 5 

xxx : 5, 6 

xxx : 14 

xxx : 16, 17 

xxx : 17, 18 

xxxi : 

xxxii : 2 

xxxv : 

xxxviii : 5 . 

xxxviii : 6 . 

xxxviii : 13-21 



DANIEL 



i: 2 
i: 21 
iii: 2 
viii : 2 
ix: 1 



HOSEA 



IV 

V : 
v: 8 



15 



IX 

ix 



6 

15 
x: 8 
X : 14 
xii: 11 



i: 5 

i: 8 



AMOS 



324 

327 

42 



47 



326 

336 

326 

334 

257 

255 

45 

40 

252 

257 

311 

41 

41 

336 

45 

45 

336 

320 

337 

330 

303 

337 

296 

45 

40 

257 



337 
42 

338 
46 

341 



165, 313 
267 
313 
319 
165 
313 
314 
165 



311 
214, 216 





INDEX OF TEXTS. 








4(55 


ii: 2 


« • • 


• 


311 


xix: 1-10 . 


• • 


« 


164 


iv ; 5 


• • • 


• 


165 










v: 


<* • • 


• 


267 




JOHN. 














iv : 9 


• • 


• 


348 




MICAH. 






viii : 18 


• • 


• 


348 


i: 5, 6 


• • • 


• 


274 










v: 2 


• • • 


• 


223 


ii : 24, 25 . 


ACTS. 


• 


403 




NAHUM. 






viii : 






397, 


399 


i: 14 


• • • 


• 


303 


viii : 5-25 . 








274 


iii: 1 


• • • 


• 


303 


ix : 6 








288 


iii: 8-10 . 


332, 


333 


ix: 30 








398 


iii: 9 


• • • 


• 


45 


ix : 32, 35 . 








401 


iii : 16 


• • • 

ZEPHANIAH. 


• 


301 


x: 1 
xi: 11 
xii: 1-10 . 






288, 


398 
398 
406 


ii: 4 


• • • 


, 


214 


xii: 19-23 








399 


ii: 13 


• • • 

ZECHARIAH. 


• 


303 


xiv : 19, 20 
XV : 36-41 
xvi : 12 






404 


404 

406 

, 419 


ix: 5, 7 


• • • 


, 


214 


xvii: 16-34 








410 


xii : 11 


• • • 

MATTHEW. 


134, 


182 


xviii : 22 . 

XX : 4 

xxi : 3, 7 . 






• 


399 
404 
253 


ii: 18 


• • • 


213, 


272 


xxi : 8, 16 








399 


XV : 21 


• • • 


• 


253 


xxii : 10 








288 


XX : 29, 


39 


• 


164 


xxiii : 24 . 








399 


xxvi : 73 


. • • 


• 


347 


xxiv : 
xxvii : 1 








399 
399 




MARK. 






xxvii ; XX viii : . 






429 


vii : 24 


• • • 


• 


253 


xxviii : 17, 31 








xiv: 70 


• • • 


• 


347 




JAMES 








LUKE. 






v: 7 


• 1 


• 


160 


iv : 25, 26 . 




276 


v: 17 


i 


1 1 


f • 


276 



30 



INDEX OF THE HARMONY. 



MATTHEW. 



Chapter. 


Verse. 


Section. 


Page. 


Chapta-, 


Verse. 


Section. 


Page. 


i. 


1-17 


13 


361 


xii. 


46-50 


50 


369 




18-25 


6 


358 


xiii. 


1-23 


54 


370 


ii. 


1-12 


10 


359 




24-53 


55 


370 




13-23 


11 


361 




54-58 


61 


375 


iii. 


1-12 


14 


361 


xiv. 


1,2 


63 


375 




13-17 


15 


362 




3, 5 


24 


363 


iv. 


1-11 


16 


362 




6-12 


63 


375 




12 


24 


363 




13-21 


64 


375 




13-16 


28 


365 




22-36 


65 


376 




17 


26 


365 


XV. 


1-20 


67 


376 




18-22 


29 


367 




21-28 


68 


376 




23-25 


32 


367 




29-38 


69 


377 


V. 


1-48 


41 


369 




39 


70 


377 


vi. 


1-34 


41 


369 


xvi. 


1-4 


70 


377 


vii. 


1-29 


41 


369 




4-12 


71 


378 


viii. 


1 


41 


369 




13-20 


73 


378 




2-4 


33 


368 




21-28 


74 


379 




5-13 


42 


369 


xvii. 


1-13 


75 


380 




14-17 


31 


367 




14-21 


76 


380 


^ 


18-27 


56 


370 




22,23 


77 


380 




28-34 


57 


373 




24-27 


78 


380 


ix. 


1 


57 


373 


xviii. 


1-35 


79 


380 




2-8 


34 


368 


xix. 


1,2 


94 


382 




9 


35 


368 




3-12 


104 


383 




10-17 


58 


374 




13-15 


105 


383 




18-26 


59 


374 




16-30 


106 


383 




27-34 


60 


375 


XX. 


1-16 


106 


383 




35-38 


62 


375 




17-19 


107 


383 


X. 


1 


62 


375 




20-28 


108 


383 




2-4 


40 


368 




29-34 


109 


383 




5-42 


62 


375 


xxi. 


1-11 


112 


383 


xi. 


1 


62 


375 




12,13 


113 


383 




2-19 


44 


369 




14-17 


112 


383 




20-30 


45 


369 




18-19 


113 


383 


xii. 


1-8 


37 


368 




20-22 


114 


383 




9-14 


38 


368 




23-32 


115 


383 




15-21 


39 


368 




33-46 


116 


384 




* 22-37 


48 


369 


xxii. 


1-14 


117 


384 




38-45 


49 


369 




15-22 


118 


384 



(466) 



ITSDEX OF THE HARMONY. 



467 



M A T T H E W— Continued. 



Chapter. 


Verse. 


Section. 


Page. 

384 


Chapter. 


Verse. 

69-75 


Section. 


xxii. 


23-33 


119 


xxvi. 


144 




34-40 


120 


384 


xxvii. 


1,2 


146 




41-46 


121 


384 




3-10 


151 


xxiii. 


1-12 


122 


384 




11-14 


146 




13-39 


123 


384 




15-26 


148 


xxiv. 


1-14 


127 


385 




26-30 


149 




15-42 


128 


385 




31-34 


152 




43-51 


129 


385 




35-38 


153 


XXV. 


1-30 


129 


385 




39-44 


154 




31-46 


130 


385 • 




45-50 


155 


xxvi. 


1-16 


131 


385 




51-56 


156 




17-19 


132 


385 




57-61 


157 




20 


133 


385 




62-66 


158 




21-25 


135 


385 


xxviii. 


1 


160 




26-29 


137 


385 




2-4 


159 




30 


142 


386 




5-7 


161 




31-35 


136 


385 




8-10 


162 




36-46 


142 


386 




11-15 


165 




47-56 


143 


388 




16 


169 




57,58 


144 


388 




16-20 


170 




59-68 


145 


388 






, 



Page. 



388 

389 
389 
389 
889 
389 
389 
389 
389 
389 
389 
390 
390 
393 
393 
393 
393 
393 
393 
393 



1. 



11. 



111. 



IV. 



V. 







MARK. 








1-8 


14 


361 1 


vi. 


1-6 


61 


375 


9-11 


15 


362 




6-13 


62 


375 


12,13 


16 


362 




14-16 


63 


375 


14 


24 


363 




17-20 


24 


363 


14,15 


26 


365 




21-29 


63 


375 


16-20 


29 


367 




30-44 


64 


375 


21-28 


30 


367 




45-56 


65 


376 


29-34 


31 


367 


vii. 


1-23 


61 


376 


35-39 


32 


367 




24-30 


68 


376 


40-45 


33 


368 




31-37 


69 


377 


1-12 


34 


368 


viii. 


1-9 


69 


377 


13,14 


35 


368 




10-12 


70 


377 


15-22 


58 


374 




13-21 


71 


378 


23-28 


37 


368 




22-26 


72 


378 


1-6 


38 


368 




27-30 


73 


378 


7-12 


39 


368 




31-38 


74 


379 


13-19 


40 


368 


ix. 


1 


74 


379 


19-30 


48 


369 




2-13 


75 


380 


31-35 


50 


369 




14-29 


76 


380 


1-25 


54 


370 




30-32 


77 


380 


26-34 


55 


370 




33 


78 


380 


35-41 


56 


370 




33-50 


79 


380 


1-21 


57 


373 


X. 


1 


94 


382 


22-43 


59 . 


374 




2-12 


104 


383 



468 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



MAR K — Continued. 



Chapter. 


Verse. 

13-16 


Section. 


Page. 


Chapter. 


Verse. 


Section. 


Page. 


X. 


105 


383 


xiv. 


26 


142 


386 




17-31 


106 


383 




27-31 


136 


385 




32-34 


107 


383 




32-42 


142 


386 




35-45 


108 


383 




43-52 


143 


388 




46-52 


109 


383 




53,54 


144 


388 


xi. 


1-11 


112 


383 




55-65 


145 


388 




12-19 


113 


383 




66-72 


144 


388 




20-26 


114 


383 


XV. 


1-5 


146 


389 




27-33 


115 


383 




6-15 


148 


389 


xii. 


1-12 


116 


384 




15-19 


149 


389 




13-17 


118 


384 




20-23 


152 


389 




18-27 


119 


384 




24-28 


153 


389 




28-34 


120 


384 




29-32 


154 


389 




35-37 


121 


384 




33-37 


155 


389 




38,39 


122 


384 




38-41 


156 


389 




40 


123 


384 




42-47 


157 


390 




41-44 


124 


384 


xvi. 


1 


159 


393 


xiii. 


1-13 


127 


385 




2-4 


160 


393 




14-37 


128 


385 




5-7 


161 


393 


xiv. 


1-11 


131 


385 




8 


162 


393 




12-16 


132 


385 




9-11 


164 


393 




17 


133 


385 




12-13 


166 


393 




18-21 


135 


385 




14-18 


167 


393 




22-25 


137 


385 




19,20 


172 


395 



LUKE. 



1. 



11. 



111. 



IV. 



1-4 

5-25 
26-38 
39-56 
57-80 

1-7 

8-20 
21-38 
39,40 
41-52 

1-18 
19,20 
21-23 
23-38 

1-13 
14 

14,15 
16-31 
31-37 
38-41 
42-44 



1 


352 


V. 


2 


352 




3 


352 




4 


358 




5 


358 


- 


7 


358 


vi. 


8 


359 




9 


359 




11 


361 




12 


361 




14 


361 




24 


363 




15 


362 




13 


361 


vii. 


16 


362 




24 


363 




26 


365 




28 


365 


viii. 


30 


367 




31 


367 




32 


367 





1-11 

12-16 
17-26 
27,28 
29-39 
1-5 
6-11 
12-19 
20-26 
27-30 
31 

32-36 

37-49 

1-10 

11-17 

18-35 

36-50 

1-3 

4-18 

19-21 

22-25 



29 
33 
34 
35 
58 
37 
38 
40 
41 
41 
41 
41 
41 
42 
43 
44 
46 
47 
54 
50 
56 



367 
368 
368 
368 
374 
368 
368 
368 
369 
369 
369 
369 
369 
369 
369 
369 
369 
369 
370 
369 
370 



INDEX OF THE HARMONY. 



469 



L U K E — Continued. 



Chapter. 


Verse. 


Section. 

57 


Page. 

373 


Chapter. 


Verse. 


Section. 

112 


Page. 


viii. 


26-40 


xix. 


29-44 


383 




41-56 


59 


374 




45-48 


113 


383 


ix. 


1-6 


62 


375 


XX. 


1-8 


115 


383 




7-9 


63 


375 




9-19 


116 


384 




10-17 


64 


375 




20-26 


118 


384 




18-21 


73 


378 




27-40 


119 


384 




22-27 


74 


379 




41-44 


121 


384 




28-36 


75 


380 




45,46 


122 


384 




37-43 


76 


380 




47 


123 


384 




43-45 


77 


380 


xxi. 


1-4 


124 


384 




46-50 


79 


380 




5-19 


127 


385 




51-56 


81 


380 




20-36 


128 


385 




57-62 


56 


370 




37,38 


113 


383 


X. 


1-16 


80 


380 


xxii. 


1-6 


131 


385 




17-24 


89 


381 




7-13 


132 


385 




25-37 


86 


381 




14-18 


133 


385 




38-42 


87 


381 




19,20 


137 


385 


xi. 


1-13 


88 


381 




21-23 


135 


385 




14,15 


48 


369 




24-30 


133 


385 




16 


49 


369 




31-38 


136 


385 




17-23 


48 


369 




39-46 


142 


386 




24-28 


49 


369 




47-53 


143 


388 




29-36 


49 


369 




54-62 


144 


388 




37-54 


51 


369 




63-71 


145 


388 


xii. 


1-59 


52 


369 


xxiii. 


1-5 


146 


389 


xiii. 


1-9 


53 


370 




6-12 


147 


389 




10-21 


94 


382 




13-25 


148 


389 




22-35 


95 


382 




26-33 


152 


389 


xiv. 


1-24 


96 


382 




33-34 


153 


389 




25-35 


97 


382 




35-37 


154 


389 


XV. 


1-32 


98 


382 




38 


153 


389 


xvi. 


1-13 


99 


382 




39-43 


154 


389 




14-31 


100 


382 




44-46 


155 


389 


xvii. 


1-10 


101 


382 




45 


156 


389 




11-19 


82 


380 




47-49 


156 


389 




20-37 


102 


382 




50-56 


157 


390 


xviii. 


1-14 


103 


382 


xxiv. 


1-3 


160 


393 




15-17 


105 


383 




4-8 


161 


393 




18-30 


106 


383 




9-11 


162 


393 




31-34 


107 


383 




12 


163 


393 




35-43 


109 


383 




13-35 


166 


393 


xix. 


1 


109 


383 




36-49 


167 


393 




2-28 


110 


383 




50-53 


172 


395 



470 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



JOHN. 



Chapter. 


Verse. 


Section. 


Page. 


Chapter. 


Verse. 

12-19 


Section. 

112 


Page. 


i. 


1-18 


17 


362 


xii. 


383 


-' 


19-34 


18 


362 




20-36 


125 


384 




35-52 


19 


363 


xiii. 


37-50 


126 


384 


ii. 


1-12 


20 


363 




^ 1-20 


134 


385 




13-25 


21 


363 




21-35 


135 


385 


iii. 


1-21 


22 


363 


xiv. 


36-38 


136 


385 




22-36 


23 


363 


XV. 


1-31 


138 


385 


iv. 


1-3 


24 


363 


xvi. 


1-27 


139 


385 




4-42 


25 


364 


xvii. 


1-33 


140 


385 




43-45 


26 


365 


xviii. 


1-26 


141 


386 




46-54 


27 


365 




1 


142 


386 


V. 


1-47 


36 


368 




2-12 


143 


388 


vi. 


1-14 


64 


375 




13-18 


]44 


388 




15-21 


65 


376 




19-24 


145 


388 




22-71 


66 


376 




25-27 


144 


388 


vii. 


1 


66 


376 




28-38 


146 


389 




2-10 


81 


380 


xix. 


39,40 


148 


389 




11-53 


83 


380 




1-3 


149 


389 


viii. 


1 


83 


380 




4-16 


150 


389 




2-11 


84 


381 




16,17 


152 


389 




12-59 


85 


381 




18-24 


153 


389 


IX. 


1-41 


90 


382 




25-27 


154 


389 


X. 


1-21 


90 


381 




28-30 


155 


389 




22-42 


91 


381 


XX. 


31-42 


157 


390 


xi. 


1-46 


92 


381 




1,2 


160 


393 




47-54 


93 


381 




3-10 


163 


393 




55-57 


111 


383 




11-18 


164 


393 


xii. 


1 


111 


383 




19-23 


167 


393 




2-8 


131 


385 




24-29 


168 


393 




9-11 


111 


383 


xxi. 


1-24 


169 


393 



1. 



3-8 
9-12 



171 
172 



ACTS. 



394 
395 



1. 



18,19 



151 



389 







1 CORINTHIANS. 


xi. 


23-25 


137 


385 


XV. 


6 


XV. 


5 


166 


393 




7 




5 


167 


393 







170 
171 



393 
394 



31 



INDEX OF THE MAPS. 



■ 


Plate 


11 






Plate 




Abel ..... 


V. 


Fh 


Anim 


IV. 


Gf 


Abel-beth-maachah 


a 


EFb 


Anitha . . 






li 


If 


Abila ..... 


(< 


Hf 


Antioch . . 






VI. 


Le 


Abimael .... 


II. 


Hd 


Antipatris 






IV. 


Ba 


Accho 


V. 


C e 


Antonia, tower < 


of 




I. 




Achaia .... 


VI. 


DEd 


Apamea . . 






VI. 


Le 


Aceldama . . . 


I. 




Apheca . . 






V. 


Ge 


Achelais .... 


IV. 


Eb 


Apollonia 






( ( 


Ah 


Adriatic Sea . . . 


VI. 


BCab 


• • 






VI. 


Gb 


Adullam .... 


IV. 


De 


Appii Forum 






u 


A a 


Mnon 


V. 


Fh 


Arabians . . 






II. 


Flad 


Aere . . . . . 


(( 


Kc 


• • 






VI. 


KMgh 


.Etna 


VI. 


Ad 


Arabs . . . 






IV. 


Cg 


Africa . . . . . 


Ik 


AFh 


Arabia Petraea 






III. 


KLcd 


Agrigentum . . . 


a 


Ad 


Arad . . . 






IV. 


Of 


Akabah, gulf of 


III. 


leg 


Aradus . . 






VI. 


Kf 


Akiabim .... 


IV. 


Fh 


Aram . . . 






II. 


DEde 


Akra .... 


I. 




Ararat . . . 






it 


Gc 


Akrabbi .... 


IV. 


Ea 


" Mt. . 






il 


Co 


Alexander, tomb of 


I. 




Araxes . . 






u 


Cbc 


Alexandria . . . 


VI. 


Gh 


Archipelago . 






VI. 


EFce 


H 11 i i 


(( 


Fc 


Areopolis . . 






il 


Lh 


Alexandroscenae . 


V. 


Co 


Argaeus, Mt. 






11 


Kd 


Almodad .... 


II. 


lb 


Argos .... 






IL 


Dd 


Amasia .... 


VI. 


Kc 


Arga . . . 






V. 


Gh 


Amatha .... 


V. 


Gf 


Argob . . . 






(( 


Gh 


Amathus .... 


V. 


Gh 


Arimathea . . 






IV. 


Ac 


.... 


VI. 


If 


Armenians . . 




- 


VI. 


Dcd 


Amalek .... 


II. 


Ff 


• • 






1 1 


L mc 


Amisus . , . . 


VI. 


Kb 


Ar Moab . . 






IV. 


Gf 


Ammon .... 


IV. 


GHde 


Arnon river 






(( 


Ge 


Ammonites . . . 


(; 


GLad 


Aroer .... 






(( 


He 


Amorites .... 


II. 


EFe 


• • ■ ' fl 






(( 


Cg 


Amphipolis . . . 


VI. 


Eb 


• • • t 






III. 


Kd 


Ananias, tomb of . 


I. 




Arphaxad . . 






II. 


Dc 


Anathoth .... 


IV. 


De 


Arsinoe . . . 






III. 


Ec 


Ancient World, as 






Arvad .... 






II. 


Ee 


known to the Is- 






Aseka .... 






IV. 


Bd 


raelites . . . 


II. 




Asher .... 






V. 


DEd 


Ancyra .... 


VL 


Ic 


Ashkenaz . . 






II. 


Cf 



(471) 



472 

Ashraft 
Ashtaroth 
Ashtemoh 
Asia Minor 
Asser . . 
Assos . . 
Assur . 
Assyrians 
Astaroth 
Atiiens 

Atharoth 

Attalia 

Baalbec 

Baal-Gad 

Baal-Hermon 

Baai-Meon 

Babel . 

Babylon 

Bahurim 

Barahkan 

Bash an 

Bay of Suez 

Beersheba 

Benjamin 
Berenice . 
Belus river 
BercEea 
Beritus 
Besor river 
Bethabara 
Bethanim 
Bethany . 
Bethar . . 
Beth-Arbel 
Beth- Dragon 
Bethel . . 
Bethesda . 
Beth-haccerem 
Beth-haven 
Beth-Hoglah 
Beth-horon 

Beth Jesimoth 

Bethlehem 

Bethogabris 

Bethonim 

Beth-Peor 

Bethsemes or 

she mesh 
Eethshean 
Beth Sittah 
Bethzur . 
Bezar . . 



HISTOiaCAL GEOGRAPHY, 



Be 



th- 



Plnte 
III. 

V. 
IV. 
VI. 

V. 
VI. 

a 
il 

V. 

II. 

VI. 
IV. 
VI. 



V. 
IV. 

II. 
III. 

IV. 

III. 
II. 

IV. 

III. 

IV. 
VI. 

V. 
VI. 

i i 

IV. 



< i 

V. 
IV 

I. 

IV 



I. 

IV. 

i i 
i i 
( ( 
(( 

I i 

V. 
IV. 

il 



Gh 
Kf 
Of 

GLbe 
D h 
F c 

DEcd 

DEcd 
le 
C h 
Ed 
Gd 
H e 
Lf 
Lf 
G b 
Hd 
E c 
B d 
Dc 
K 1 

HLdh 
Ff 

Bg 
Ic 
E c 

Cg 
C De 
Le 
Z f 
Af 
Fc 
G b 
Dd 
B h 
Fe 
Af 
Dc 

Dd 
Fc 
Fc 



C 
F 
D 
B 



C 



Gd 

Bd 

F^- 
Eg 
C e 
He 



Bezetha . . 
Birket Temseh 
Bithynia . . 
Black Sea 

Bostra . . 

Bostenus 

Bourlas lake . 

Bridge, ancient 

By thus . . 

Byzantium . 

Caesarea . . 

Cairo . . . 

Calah . . . 

Calamon . . 

Camp of Assyrians 
" Pompey 
" Titus . 

Cana of Galilee 

Canaan . . 

Capernaum . . 

Cappadocia . . 

Caphorbarucha . 

Capitolias . . 

Capua .... 

Caravan route from 
Cairo . . . 

Caravan route to Da- 
mascus 

Carchemish . 

Caria . . . 

Carmel . . 

Carrhae . . 






Casium 



Caspian Sea 
Caucasian Mts. 

Cephalentia . . 
Cesarea 

Cesarea Palestine 
Philippi 
Chalcedon . . 
Chalcis . . . 
Chaldeans . . 
Chalneh . . . 
ChesuUoth . 
Cusa .... 
Che bar river 



OS ... . 
Chorazin . . . 
Cilicia . . 

Cimmerians . ^ . 
Chrysorchaas river 
Cinneroth . . 

Cisterns . . . 



Plate 

I. 
III. 
VI. 

IL 
VI. 

V. 

III. 

I. 

VI. 

i i 

V. 

III. 

IL 
V. 
I. 



V. 

IL 

V. 

VI. 

IV. 

V. 
VI. 

III. 



IL 

VI. 

IV. 

VL 

III. 

IL 

VI. 

II. 

VI. 

( ( 

V. 
VI. 

IL 

VL 

V. 

IL 

VL 
IV. 
VI. 
IL 
V. 

I. 



Db 


H Ic 


GMab 


Dbf 


E a 


A a 


Kf 


Gc 


B c 


Dc 


Be 



De 
Ee 
Fe 
KLcd 
De 
De 
Ab 

Cd 



Led 


Ed 


Ge 


Df 


Md 


Ea 


Ma 


B bd 


Dd 


Kd 


Kg 


Gc 


He 


Ed 


Bd 


Eb 


Ef 


Dd 


Fd 


Ee 


IKde 


Be 


KL a 


Ee 



INDEX OF MAPS. 



473 




City of David 
Cnossus 
Cnidus 
Comana 
Consentia 
Corcyra 
Cos 

Corinth 
Convent, Mt 
Crete 
Croton 
Cyprus 
Cyrus 
Cyrene 
Cyreniaca 
Cyzicus 
Dacia . 
Damascus, 
route to 
Damascus 
Dan . . 
Danube river 
Darebath . 
David, Sepulchre of 
Dead Sea . . 
Debrath . . 
Dedan . . . 
Deir . . . 
Derbe . . 
Derne ... 
Desert of Paran 
'* '' Shur 

" Sin 

*' Tih 
Diklah. . . 



Caravan 



tc 



It 



Dorycleum . 
Dor Adoraim 
Dorostorum . 
Dragon Fountain 
Dyrrachium 
Duma . . . 
Eber . . . 
Eboda . . • 
Ecbatana . . 
Ecdippa . . 
Edea . . . 
Eden . . . 
Edom . . . 



(( 



Edoni or Idumea 
Edrei ... 
Edumia . . 
Eglon . . . 
Egypt . . . 



Plate 

I. 
VI. 



TIL 

II. 

VI. 

II. 
VI. 



(< 

III. 
V. 

VI. 
V. 

I. 

IV. 
V. 

II. 
III. 

VI. 

III. 



II. 

VI. 
IV. 
VI. 

I. 

VI. 

II. 

n 

III. 
II. 

V. 
VI. 

II. 
III. 

V. 
IV. 

III. 







Plate 






Egyptians . . . 


IL 


F G 


Fe 


• • • * 


VI. 


GI 


Ge 


Eklon 


IV. 


A c 


Ld 


Elam 


II. 


Eb 


B c 


Elealeh .... 


IV. 


He 


Dc 


Elisha 


IL 


Dh 


Ge 


Elusa 


III. 


la 


Ed 


(( 


IV. 


Ah 


B f 


El Kaa, plain of 


IIL 


^g 


Eg 


Emesa * . . . 


VI. 


Lf 


Be 


Emmaus, road to . 


I. 




lef 


Endor 


V. 


Ef 


C c 


Engannim . . . 


( I 


Dg 


Dg 


Engedi .... 


IV. 


Ee 


CEg 


En Rogel . . . 


I. 




Gc 


Ephesus .... 


VI. 


Gd 


Fa 


Ephraim .... 


IV. 


C a 




Epiphania . . . 


VI. 


EFd 


Led 


Erech 


II. 


Fc 


La 


Esdraela . ... 


V. 


Eg 


Fc 


Esdraelon . . . 


(( 


Dg 


EG a 


Etham 


III. 


Ec 


Ef 


a 


IV. 


Dd 




Ethiopia .... 


II. 


Ldg 


EFe 


Eubcea .... 


VI. 


EF c 


Ef 


Euphrates . . . 


IL 


CFbd 


Da 


.... 


VI. 


Mce 


BCg 


Exodus of the Israel- 






Id 


ites 


IIL 




Dg 


Fair Havens . . 


VI. 


Ff 


Ibcd 


Fareiyah .... 


IV. 


Ea 


FG be 


Formiae .... 


VL 


A b 


Ff 


Fountain of Moses 


IIL 


Ed 


GHcd 


Fuller's Grave . . 


I. 




Ge 


Gaba 


V. 


Db 


Ec 


Gabara .... 


(< 


Db 


He 


Gabatha .... 


<( 


Df 


BCe 


Gad 


IV. 


Gf 


G a 


Gadara .... 


V. 


Gf 




Gadda 


IV. 


lb 


Db 


Galatia .... 


VI. 


IKc 


Ee 


Galilee, Sea of . . 


V. 


F e 


Dde 


Galilee .... 


11 


BG af 


lb 


Gamala .... 


11 


Gf 


Db 


Gates of Jerusalem 






Gd 


Gate, Ancient . . 


I. 




Ld 


" Brick . . . 






Md 


" Eastern . . 






Eh 


" Ephraim . . 






Fe 


" of the Essenes 






1Kb 


" Fish . . . 






Kf 


'' of the Fountain 






E a 


'' Garden . . 






Ae 


" Horse . . . 






AD 


'' Sheep . . . 







474 



HISTOSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Gate of the Valley 

" Water 
Gaza . . 
Gebah . . 
Gebal Moab 
Gebel Fureia 
Gerasa 
Gerizim . ^ 
Geth . . 
Gethsemane 
Gibeah 

;' of Saul 
Gibeon, road to 
Gilboa, Mt. 
Gilead, Mt. 
Gilgal . . 
Gimzo . . 
Gindea 
Gog . . 
Golgotha . 
Gomer 
Goshen 
Greece 

Gulf of Akaba 

" " Suez 
Hadoram . . 
Haemus, Mts. 
Hagarites 
Halhul ^ . . 
Halys river . 
Hamath . . 
Ham, descendants of 
Ham math 
Hananeel, tower of 
Haran . . . 
Harma . . . 
Harosheth 
Hauram . . 
Hazarmaveth 
Hazeroth . . 
Hazor . . . 
Havila . . . 



Hebron . . 

Hebrus . . 

Helbon . . 
Helena, palace of 
Heliopolis 

Hellas . . . 

Hellespont . 

Hena . . . 

Hepha . . . 



Plate 
L 

III. 

IV. 

III. 

VI. 
IV. 

V. 

I. 
IV. 

a 
I. 

V. 
IV. 

a 

V. 

II. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

VI. 

II. 
III. 

IL 
VI. 

II. 
IV. 
VI. 

II. 

li 

V. 

I. 
II. 

IV. 

V. 

i i 

II. 
III. 

V. 
IL 

IV. 

III. 

VI. 

II. 
I. 

III. 
11. 

VI. 

II. 

V. 



la 

Dc 

Lab 

AB e 

Lg 
Da 
Df 

Cd 
Gc 

Eg 
Ga 
Ba 
B c 

Ge 

Adf 

C b 

DEd 

Cb 

I eg 
C F 
Kab 

FGab 
Fc 
Ce 

Kbc 
De 
G L 
Fe 

Dd 

C a 

Fd 
LGf 

lab 

Hf 

Gc 

FGb 

Ic 

Lc 

Ce 

K e 

Gb 

De 

A c 
Dh 
FG c 
Ec 
Ce 



Hephr .... 
Hereclea . . . 
Hermon, Mts. . 
Herod, palace of 
Herod's monuments 
Heshbon . . 

Hiddekel . . 

Hieromax river 

Hieropolis 

Hippos . . 

Horeb . . . 

Huleh . . . 

Iconium . . 

Idumea or Edom 

Ionian Sea 

Ijon 

Issachar 

Issus . 

Istropolis 

Iturea . 

Jabesh Gilead 

Jabneh . . 

Jabock river . 

Japheth, descendants 

of 
Japhia 



Jar moth 
Javan . 
Jazar . 
Jebal . 
Jebel-et-Tih 
Jehoshaphat, 

of . . 
Jerah . . 
Jericho 
Jerusalem 



i I 



siege 
the Romans 

Jezreel . . 

Jobab . . . 

Joktan 

Joppa, Jarpho 
" road to 

Jotapata . . 

Jordan river . 

Judah . . . 

Judea . . . 

Julias . . . 

Juliopolis . . 

Kadesh Barnea 

Naphthali 

Kanath . . . 

Karnaim . . . 



of, 



valley 



by 



Plate 

V. 
VI. 

V. 

I. 

li 

IV. 

IL 
V. 
VL 
V. 
III. 
V. 
VL 
IIL 
VL 

V. 

ti 

VI. 
V. 

li 

IV. 

li 

IL 

V. 
IV. 

IL 
IV. 

III. 
I. 

IL 

IV. 

(( 

VL 

I. 

V. 

IL 

i i 

VL 

I. 

V. 

IV. 

(( 

IIL 

V. 

VL 

IIL 

V. 

il 



Gf 

lb 
GHb 



Hd 

Gc 

DE c 

GLf 

Le 

Gf 

Af 

Fc 

Id 

1Kb 

B d 

Fb 

Dfg 

L e 

G a 

HKbc 

Gg 
A c 

GHa 

A E 

Df 

Bd 

Deh 

He 

FGh 

GH 



K a 

C c 

Dd 

KLh 



Eg 
HI a 
Glad 

Kg 

Dd 
Fac 
De 
IK a 
Gd 
Ic 
Kb 
Ec 
Dc 
le 



INDEX OF MAPS. 



475 





Plate 






Plate 




Kedar .... 


II. 


Fd 


Melitene . 


... VL 


Md 


Kegila . . . ^. . 


IV. 


Cd 


• 


• • • 


Ge 


Kerak ...*.. 


II. 


GHfg 


Memphis 


. . . IIL 


Bd 


King's Gardens 


I. 




Menzaleh 


a 

« • • 


Ca 


King's Pool . . . 


n 




(( 


Lake . 


CDa 


" tombs of 


ii 




Meroe . . 


... IL 


If 


Kirjath Jearim . . 


IV. 


Cc 


Merom, m^j 


aters of . V. 


Fd 


Kir Moab - - - 


ii 


Gg 


Meshech . 


... IL 


Ccd 


Kison or Kishon river 


V. 


CDf 


Messana . 


... VL 


Be 


Kokaba . . . . 


V. 


Hb 


Mesopotan 


lia ... " 


Mde 


Koreathe .... 


( ; 


Ld 


Mickmash 


... IV. 


Dc 


Krith river . . . 


IV. 


Fc 


Midian . 


. . . IIL 


KLe 


Kur river . . . 


II. 


Gb 


i i 


. . . . IL 


Fe 


Kutha .... 


( ( 


Eb 


Migdol 


. . . . V. 


Fe 


Lachish . . . 


IV. 


B e 


Miletus 


. . . . VL 


Gd 


Lake Bourlas . . 


HI. 


A a 


Millo . 


. . . . I. 




" xMenzaleh . 


a 


CDa 


Misthor 


• • • • 




Laodicea .... 


VI. 


Cd 


Mizpeh 


. . . . IV. 


Cc 


Larissa .... 


it 


Ec 


])Iizraim 


. . . . IL 


FGfg 


Lasea ..... 


a 


Ef 


Moab . . 


... IV. 


Gfg 


Lebonah ... 


a 


Cb 


Moladah 


ii 


Cg 


Legio 


V. 


Dg 


Monumeni 


t of Herod L 




Lejah .> '. . . . 


III. 


Af 


Moph, Me 


mphis . II. 


Ff 


Lehabim .... 


IL 


EFh 


Moriah, M 


t. . . I. 




Leontes river . . 


V. 


DEb 


Moses, fou 


mtain of III. 


E d 


Libnah .... 


IV. 


Be 


Mountains 


of Moab IV. 


Ggh 


Lipari Islands . . 


VL 


Aa 


Myra . 


. . . . VL 


He 


Lud 


IL 


Cg 


Mysians 


1 • • « 


Ge 


Lycaonia . . . . 


VI. 


Kd 


Mytelene 


ii 
• • • • 


Fd 


Lydda ..... 


(( 


Be 


Murressa 


. . . . IV. 


B e 


Lydia 


IL 


Df 


Nain . 


. . . . V. 


Ef 


Lystra 


VL 


I 


Naphthali, 


Mts. . 


Ecd 


Magdala .... 


V. 


Ee 


Naphthali 




Fd 


it 

..... 


(( 


Fe 


Naphthuhi 


m . . IL 


Fg 


Magog .... 


IL 


AB c 


Naxos . 


. . . . VL 


Fd 


( ( 


ii 


CB c 


Nazareth 


. . . . V. 


Ef 


Mahanaim . . . 


V. 


Hg 


Nazian 


. . . . VL 


Kd 


• • • • • 


(( 


Ih 


Neapolis 


a 

... 


B b 


Manasseh . . . 


ii 


Eh Id 


ii 


ii 

• • • 


Fb 


Mansurah . . . 


III. 


Ba 


Nebajoth 


. . . . IL 


Fe 


Marah 


ii 


Ee 


Neballat 


. . . . IV. 


B c 


Market in Zion 


I. 




Nebo, Mt. 


i i 


Gd 


Mariamne, tower of 


(( 




Neja Seba 


L'iyeh* ; III. 


Cef 


Mash 


IL 


Dd 


Neoe . 


. . . . V. 


le 


MaximianopoHs 


V. 


Cg 


Nezib . 


. . . . IV. 


Be 


Mazaca .... 


VL 


Kc 


Nicephori 


im . . VL 


Me 


Medeba .... 


IV. 


Hd 


Nicopohs 


ii 

• • • • 


Dc 


Medians .... 


II. 


DEb 


Nile river 


. . . III. 


ABad 


Mediterranean Sea 


ii 




Nineveh 


. . . . IL 


Dc 


(( i< 


III. 




No Ammc 


m . . . 


Gf 


ii a 


VL 




Nob . 


. . . . IV. 


Dc 


Megalopolis . . . 


ii 


Dd 


Nub . 


. . . . IL 


Ig 


Megiddo .... 


V. 


Dg 


On . . 


ii 

• • • • 


Ff 


Mehola .... 


(( 


Fh 


Ophel . 


. . . . I. 




Melite ..... 


VL 


Ae 


Ophir . 


. . . . II. 


Kb 



476 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 







! 


Plate 






Plate 




Ophni 


IV. 


C c 


Rakkath . . . 


. V. 


Fe 


Ornithopolis . . 






V. 


Db 


Ralmanieh . . 


. III. 


A a 


Oscala . . ^ . 






1 1 


Ed 


Ramah . . . 


. IV. 


Dc 


Palestine . . . 






IV. 




Ramases . . . 


. III. 


Cb 


• • t 






V. 




Ramoth Gilead . 


. . IV. 


GHb 








VI. 


Kgh 


Ratavia . . . 


. VI. 


Ea 


Palmyra . . . 






(( 


Mf 


Ravine . . . 


. . IIL 


Cg 


Pamphylia . . 






( ( 


Hie 


Red Sea . . 


. . II. 


Ff 


Paneas . . . 






V. 


Gc 


H It 

• • 


. . IIL 


HIg 


Panormus . . 






VL 


A c 


Rehab . , . 


. . V. 


Fc 


Paphos . . . 






(i 


If 


Resen . . . 


. . IL 


Dc 


Paraetonium 






li 


Gh 


Reuben . . 


. . IV. 


Gf 


Paran, desert of 






III. 


Ibd 


Rhegium . . 


. . VL 


Be 


Paros . . . . 






VI. 


Fd 


Rhinocolura . 


. . III. 


Ha 


Pathrusim . . 






II. 


GH fg 


Rhodes . . 


. . VL 


Ge 


Pella .... 






V. 


^g 


' ' Rodanin 


1 . II. 


Df 


Pelusium . . . 






VI. 


Ih 


Rimmon . . 


. . V. 


De 


(( 






in. 


Da 


Riphath . . 


. . IL 


A de 


Perea .... 






IV. 


Gbg. 


River Nile 


. . III. 


ABad 


Pergamus . . 






VL 


Gc 


Road to Bethan 


y and 




Persia .... 






11. 


Fa 


Jericho . . 


. . 1. 




Pessinus . . . 






VL 


He 


Road to Beth] 


ehem 




Petra .... 






(( 


Lh 


and Hebron 


. . 1. 




Petrae .... 






11 


Dd 


Road to Emmau 


.s . I. 




Phaeno .... 






V. 


Lc 


'' *' Gebah 


. . 1. 




Pharphar . . . 






V. 


La 


" ** Joppa 


. . I. 




Phasaelis . . . 






IV. 


Eb 


** *' Samaria 


L 




Phaselis, tower ( 


Df ; 




I. 




" '* Shecher 


n . I. 




Phiala Lake . . 






V. 


He 


Rome . . . 


. . VL 


A a 


Philadelphia 






VL 


Lg 


Rosetta . . 


. . HI. 


Aa 


(( 






I i 


Gd 


Sabthah \ , 


. . II. 


Kd 


Philippi . . . 






il 


Fb 


Sabthecha 


(( 


Lb 


Philistines . . 






11. 


Fe 


Salamis . . 


.* ! VL 


Kf 


Phrygians . . 






<( 


Cf 


Salaph . . . 


. . IL 


Hd 


PhcEnicia . . 






(( 


Ee 


Salmons . . 


. . VL 


Ff 


• • 






VI. 


Lfg 


Samaria . . 


. . V. 


Dh 


Phoenix . . 






a 


Ef 


Samathonitis 


il 


Fd 


Phursalus . . 






il 


Ec 


Samosata . . 


! ! VI. 


Md 


Phut . . . 






II. 


Fh 


Sangerius River 


(( 


He 


Pisidians . . 






( < 


Hd 


Saphir . . . 


. ; IV. 


Ad 


Plain of El Kaa 




III. 


Gg 


Saracen Desert 


. . VL 


Mfg 


Pniel .... 




IV. 


Ha 


Sarar . . . 


. .. IV. 


Be 


Pompey, camp of 




1. 




Sardis . . . 


. . II. 


5^ 


Pool of Hezekiah 




1. 




11 

... 


. . VL 


Gd 


" '' Kings . 




I. 




Sared River . 


. . IV. 


FHfg 


" Lower . 






1. 




Sarepta . . 


. . V. 


Da 


*' of Siloam 






I. 




Saron . . . 


(( 


Ff 


*' Upper . 






L 




Satala . . . 


! ; VI. 


Mc 


Prusa . . . 






VL 


He 


Scardus Mts. 


11 


DEb 


Psephinos, towe 


r 


f 


I. 




Scopus Hill . 


'. '. L 




Ptolemais 






V. 


Ce 


Scythopola . 


. . V. 


S^ 


• • 






VI. 


Kg 


Sea of Galilee 


(< 


Fe 


Puteoli . . 






(( 


Ab 


*' Red . . 


; ; III. 


HIg 


Raamah • . 






II. 


Gab 


Seba . . . 


. . IL 


Kf 


Rabboth Ammo 


n . 




IV. 


HIc 




a 


Kc 



INDEX OF MAPS. 



477 



Seba'iyeh 
Sebastea . 
Sedout 
Seleucia . 
• 
Senafer 
Senate House 
Senefer 
Sephar 
Sepharad . 
Sepharvaim 
Sephet . . 
Sepphoris 
Shalem 
Sheikh, Jebel Esh- 
Shem, descendants 
Shiloh ..... 
Shinar, plains of 
Shunem . . 
Shur, desert of 
Shushuh 
Sibina . . . 
Sicilia . . . 
Sidon . . . 

Siloam, pool of 
Simeon . . 

' t tomb of 
Sin .... 
" desert of 
Sinai . . . 

n 
cc 

Sittim . . . 
Smyrna . . 
Socoh . . 
Soli .... 
Sparta . . . 
St. Catherine 
Suchoth . . 

Suez . . . 

*' bay of . 

*' gulf of . 
Sycar, Shechem 
Sycaminopolis 
Syene . . . 
Synnada . . 
Syracuse . . 
Syria . . . 
Syrtis Magna 
Scythians . . 
Taanach . . 
Tabae . . . 
Tagaba . . 



of 



Plate 

HI. 

VI. 

III. 

V. 
VI. 

III. 

I. 
III. 

II. 



V. 

IV. 
V. 

II. 

IV. 

II. 

V. 

III. 

IV. 

VI. 

V. 

VI. 

I. 

IV. 

I. 
II. 
III. 
III. 

II 

II. 

IV. 
VI. 
IV. 
VI. 

i i 

III. 

IV. 
V. 

III. 
II. 
III. 

IV. 
V. 

II. 

VI. 

II 
il 

II. 

V. 

<( 

IV. 



Ch 
Lc 
Cf 
Go 
Ke 
Ih 

Ih 
la 
Cd 
Ec 
Ed 
De 
Da 

GHab 
EH 
Db 
Ec 
Eg 

FGbc 
I h 
He 
Acd 
Ea 
Kg 

Af 

Ff 

FGbc 

Bg 

Gg 
Ff 

Fb 

Gd 

Bf 

If 

Ed 

Ah 

Fa 

F 

D 

F 



EFdh 
D 



a 
e 
f 
d 
d 



C 
G 
E 

A 

L eg 
ABgh 
AB ae 

Dg 

Gg 
Ae 



Tamae . 
Tarichaea , 
Tarentum 
Tarsus . 



Tatta Lake 

Taurus Mountains 

Tavia . 

Tekoah 

Temple 

Terabim 

Thallam, desert of 

Judah 
Thamar 
Thapsacus 
Thebes 

Thebez 
Thenae 
Thessalians . 
Thessalonica 
Thirza . . 
Thracians 
Three Taverns 
Thurii . . . 
Thyatira . . 
Tiber . . . 
Tiberias . . 



(< 



Tigris 



Lake of 



Timnath . . 

Tiras . . . 

Titus, first camp of 

Tifahah . . 

Togarmah 

Tomb of Alexander 
" " Ananias 
'' *' St. John 

Tophet . . . 



(( 



Tor .... 

Tower of Antonia, or 
of the Temple . 

Tower of Hananeel 
" " Hippicus 
'* ** Mariamne 
'' " Phaselis 
" " Psephinos 

Travels of the Apostle 
Paul 

Tripolis .... 

Troas 

Tubal 



Plate 
III. 
V. 
VI. 

II 

II. 

VI. 
IL 
VI. 
IV. 
I. 
III. 

IV. 

VI. 

IL 
V. 

n 

VI. 
V. 

II. 

VL 

u 
(( 
li 

V. 

II. 

VL 
IV. 
II. 

I. 
IIL 

II. 

I. 

(( 

( i 

a 

IV. 

III. 
I. 

(( 
(( 
(( 
(( 

VL 

a 
(< 

IL 



la 
Ff 
Cb 

S^ 
De 

Id 

Ddf 

Kg 

Dd 

GHabc 

CD eg 
Ch 
Me 
Ed 
Gf 
Eh 
Eh 
Dec 
Ec 
Eh 

Cg 
Ab 
Be 
Gd 
A a 

Kg 
Fe 
Fe 
DCd 
Md 
Bd 
Cg 

Hcd 
Ccd 



Gh 
Gg 



Kf 
Fc 
Cd 



478 



HISTOEICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Tydna ..... 
Tyre ..... 

II 

Tyropoeon . . . 
Ulama . . . . . 
Ur ..... . 

Usab . ... . 

Valley of Cheese- 
mongers . . . 

Valley of Gihon 
" " Jehoshaphat 

Wady-el-Arabah . 

Rahah . . 

'* esh Sheikh . 

'' Tulah . . 

Wall, 1st, 2d, 3d, . 

Water-course of Up- 
per Pool . . . i 



Plate 

VI. 

11. 

V. 

VI. 

I. 

V. 

11. 



I. 

I. 

I. 

III. 

i I 
ii 
it 



I. 
I. 



Kd 
Ef 
D b 

Kg 

F f 
Dd 
Kc 



Kcd 
Ae 
Be 
Af 



Water-course of Pon- 
tius Pilate . . . 
Wilderness of Zin 
Xystus .... 
Yuba ..... 
Zanoah . . . . 
Zarephath . . . 
Zebulon .... 
Zelzah . . . . 
Zephrath pass . . 

Zidon 

Zin, wilderness of 

Zion, Mt 

Ziph 

Zoar 

Zophim .... 

Zor 

Zorah 



Plate 

I. 
III. 

I. 

III. 
IV. 

V. 

IV. 

II. 

III. 

I. 

IV. 

(( 

II. 

IV. 



Ka 



Kh 


Cd 


D a 


Ef 


Cd 


Dd 


Ee 


Ka 


Ce 


Fg 


Cd 


Ee 


Be 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



59 



Aaron, deatli of 

Abana 

Abarim 

Abdon 

Abel-beth-maachah 

Abilene 

Abimael . 

Abishai 

Abner 

Abraham . 

promise to . 
offers Isaac 
Absalom . 
Achish 
Acra 

Acre, Accho, or Akka 
Acropolis of Athens . 
Adam 
Adonijah . 
Adoraim . 
Adramyttium . 
Adullam 
^gean Sea 
Agag ... 

Agony of Jesus 
Ahab, house of, destroyed 
Ahara 
Ahasuerus 
Ahaz 
Ai 

capture of 
Aiath 

Ailanitic Gulf 
A in 
Aj alon 
Akabah, the 
Akir 

Akka Bay 
Aleppo 
Alexander 



Page 120 

286 

126 

208 

242, 272, 306 

361 

. 38, 45 

223 

59, 235 

48, 53 

55 

57 

240-42 

228 

246 

347, 420 

410 

18 

243 

270 

426 

228, 269 

407 

222 

386 

280 

342 

343 

306 

334 

165 

315 

113 

128, 193 

172 

113 

216 

353 

257 

253 



Almodad . 


• 


. 38, 46 


Alush 


• 


. 80, 97 


Amalekites 


, 


222 


Amaziah . 


• 


290 


took Selah Petra 291 


challeng( 


sd Jehoash 296 


assassinated 


296 


Ammon 




334 


Amnon 




240 


Amorite . 




39 


Amorites . 




45 


Amphipolis' 




408 


Anab 




174 


Anak,sonsof . 




59 


Anakims cut off 




176 


Anamim . 




39 


Anathoth . 




194, 315 


Antediluvians . 




21 


Antioch 




401 


Antioch in Pisidia 




403 


Antipas 




349 


Antipatris . 




425 


Aphek 




213 


Apollonia 




408 


Appearances of Christ after 


his resurrection 


• 


392 


Appii Forum 


• 


428 


Aquila 


• 


413 


Ar of Moab 


• 


317 


Arabah, the 


• 


113 


Arabia, desert of 


• 


76, 112 


Aram 


• 


. 38, 47 


Ararat described 


• 


. 23 seq. 


Araxes 


• 


20 


Archelaus . 


• 


349 


Areopagus 


• 


410 


Arimathea 


« 


. 390 


Ark, capture and 


return 


of 


it 


• 


. 215-16 


Ark removed . 


• 


237 



(479) 



480 



HISTOmCAL GEOGEAPHY. 



Ark of covenant at Bethel 62 


Ark on Ararat . 


23 


Arkite, the 


. 39,45 


Armageddon 


353 


Armenia . . 


20 


Arnon river 


122, 319 


Aroer 


333 


Arphaxad 


. 38, 46, 48 


Artaxerxes 


341 


Arts of antediluvians 


23 


Arvad 


255 


Arvadite, the 


. 39, 45 


Asahel 


223 


Asa's reign 


271 


Ascension of our Loi 


•d . 395 


Ashdod 


208, 214 


Asher's territory 


188 


Ashkenaz . 


. 39, 40 


Ashur 


. 38, 46 


Askelon . 


208 


Assos 


419 


Assyrian empire 


. . 300 


character . 


305 


Athens 


410 


AttaUa . 


405 


Ava 


310 


Avan 


311,313 


Aven 


337 


AzariaJr, Uzziah 


296 


Azekah 


270 


Azotus 


397 


Azzah 


261 


Baal, prophets of, sla 


in . 277 


Baalath 


262 


Baalbec 


183 


ruins of 


184 


Baal-gad . 


182 


Baal-zephon 


72 


Baasha 


272 


Babel built 


50 


traditions of , 


51 


ruins of 


52 


Babylon, city of 


334 


Babylonians 


325 


Bahurim 


236, 241 


Bajith 


317 


Balaam 


124 


Banias, fountain 


138 


town 


378 


Baptism of Jesus 


362 


Barada river 


286 


Barnabas and Paul 


402, 403, 406 


Bashan 


314 


Battle of kings 


55 


Beer-elim 


318 



242, 



Beeroth 
Beer-sheba 
Belus, temple of 
Ben-iiadad 
Benjamin's territory 
Berachah . 
Berea 

Berodach-baladan 

Bethany . 

Bethabara . 

Beth-arbel 

Beth-aven . 

Bethel 

Beth-horon 

Bethlehem 

Beth-meon 

Beth-rehob 

Bethsaida 

Beth-shean, Beisan 

Beth-shemesh . 

in Egypt 

Beth-zur . 

Bezer 

Bezetha 

Bitter lakes 

Bithynia . 

Blind healed 

Boaz 

Bochim 

Bonaparte at the Red Sea 

Boundaries of Palestine 

Bozez 

Bozrah 

Bridge, Jacob's 

Bubastis 

Buz 

Cadiz 

Caesarea Philippi 

Caesarea 

Cain 

Calchis 

Calneh, Calno 

Calvary 

Cana of Galilee 

Canaan 

inhabitants of 
conquest of 
extermination 

Canal in Egypt 

Canneh, rums of 

Capernaum . . 
fountain . 
site of the town 

Caphtorim 

Captivity of Syria 



236 

55 
335 
273 
187 
281 
409 
310 
381 
362 
314 
313 

61 
172 
222 
333 

47 

373, 375 

207, 279 

193, 260 

330 

269 

198 

246 

69 

406 

375, 381 

210 

204 

73 
128 
221 
333-34 
347 
68, 337 
330 
252 
378 
397 

21 
299 
311 
389 
363 
39, 45, 127 
162 
173 
199 

68 
258, 311 
365 
867 
367 
39, 45 
307 



311 



354, 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



481 



Captivity of Israel . 


308-10 


Cush 




. 19, 39 


Judah . 


323-28 


Cuthah 




310 


Caravan, return of the first 


339 


Cyprus 




401 


of the second 


341 


Cyrus river 




306 


route through Galilee 346 


Cyrus's edict . 




339 


Carchemish 


313 


Daburah 




195 


Carmel, Mount 


174 


Dalmanutha 




377 


of Nabal . 


231 


Damascus . 




283 


Carthage built . 


252 


beauty of the scene 284 


Casluhim . 


. 39, 45 


trade of 


. 


287 


Cave of Machpelah . 


58 


historical associations 287 


Cedars of Lebanon . 


258 


Dan 




315, 200 


Cedron, the brook 


386 


city of 




137 


Cenchrsea .... 


413 


territory of . 




188 


Chaldeans .... 


324 


Daniel 




328, 337 


Chaos .... 


17 


Daphne 




402 


Chebar .... 


324 


Darius Hystaspis 




341 


Cheesemongers, valley of 


246 


David and Goliath 




215-216 


Children blessed 


383 


at Bethlehem 




222 


Chilmad .... 


258 


Hebron 




. 59, 235 


Chinese tables, new star of 360 


Nob . 




227 


Chios .... 


419 


Adullam 




228 


Chittim .... 


321 


Ziklag 




233 


Chorazin .... 


373 


in wilderness of En 


-gedi 230 


Christians, Gentile and Je^ 


msh 415 


his conquests 


• 


237 


Chronology of the birth oi 




his reign . 


• 


244 


Christ .... 


359 


Days of creation 


• 


18 


Chrysostom . . . 


402 


Dead Sea . 


• 


147 


Chub . . . . 


336 


specific gravity 


150 


Cilicia . . . ' 


iOO, 406 


depth 


152, 


155, 158 


Cinneroth . . . 


272 


waves 




153 


Cities, levitical 


192 


bottom 




155, 158 


of refuge 


197 


Debir 




204 


City set upon a hill . 


354 


Deborah . 




205 


Civilization before the flood 22 


Decapolis . , 




368, 377 


Classes of the priests 


352 


Dedan 


.' 39, 


258, 330 


Clauda .... 


426 


Deir, Jebel 




91 


Cliff Ziz . . . . 


280 


Demoniac of Gadara 




374 


Cloud, pillar of . 


102 


healed 




369 


Cnidus .... 


426 


Derbe 




404, 406 


Coast of Tyre and Zidon . 


377 


Desert, once productive 


78 


Colonies of Tyre 


252 


Deucalion's flood 




36 


Colosse 


430 


Diana, temple of 




413 


Colossus of Rhodes . 


419 


Dibon 




317, 333 


Coloured rocks in Petra 


295 


Diklah 




. 38, 46 


Commerce of Tyre . 


255 


Dimon, waters of 




319 


Commissaries of Solomon 


260 


Distribution of Canaan to 


• the 


Conjunction of planets ; the 


tribes 


• 


186 


star in the east 


359 


Divisions, political, 


of the New 


Cornelius . 


303, 398 


Testament 




345 


Creation, date of 


17 


Dodanim . 




39 


stages of . 


18 


Doeg 




227 


Croesus, city of 


435 


Dophkah . 




. 80, 97 


Cross, mountain of . 


89 


Dor 




260 


Crucifixion of Christ 
31 


389 


Dream of Jacob 




61 



482 



HISTOKICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Dumah 
Dura, plain of 
Ebal, Mount 
Ebenezer . 
Ebir 
Ecbatana 



Eclipse at the death of Herod 358 



18 



38, 45, 311, 



Eden 

Edom, revolt of 

Eglaim 

Egion 

Egypt, river of . 

Egyptians drowned in the 

Sea 
Ehud 
Ekron 
Elam ^ 
Elamites 
Elath 
Elealeh 
Eli 

Eliezer 
Elijah the prophet . 

at Mount Carmel 
Mount Sinai 

ascension of . 
Elim, M^aters of 
Elimelech . 
Elis 
Elisha 

isles of . 

in different scenes 

at Shunem 
Gilgal . 
the Jordan . 
Damascus . 

heals Naaman 

reappears in history 

his death 
Elon 

Emorites . 
Ernmaus . 

Encampment by Red Sea 
Endor 

En-Gedi, wilderness of 
En-rogel . 
Ephesus . . 
Ephraim's portion 

wood of . 
city of 
Ephron 

Era, the Christian, . 
Esau ... 

Esdraelon . 
Estemoa . . . . 



20, 258 
289 
318 
173 
129 
Red 



320, 
120, 



321 
338 
168 
213 
38, 45 
41 



73 

205 

216 

338 

396 

263 

317 

208, 210 

287 

276 

277 

278 

282 

79 

206 

42 

39, 42 

255 

282 

283 

283 

287 

288 

283 

289 

289 

207 

45 

393 

80 

354 

230 

243 

413, 433 

186, 188 

64, 242 

381 

381 

359 

. 61, 63 

133, 205 

174 



233. 



343 

209, 269 

71, 75, 76 

276 



Esther, book of 

Etam 

Etham 

Ethiopian invasion . 

Et-Tih mountain , . 78 

Euphrates .... 19 

Excavations at Khorsabad 303 

Excavations in Petra . 294 

Exodus of the Israelites . 71 

Ezekiel . . . 328, 335 

Ezion-Geber . . 120, 263 



Ezra 


341 


book of 


339 


Fair Havens 


426 


Feeding of five thousand 


375 


Fertility of Galilee and Jezreel 346 


Flood, traditions of . 


37 


Fortress of Hazor 


177 


Fountains of Jordan 


135 


Elisha . 


164 


Fureia, Jebel 


92 


Gad the prophet . ♦ 


229 


territory . 


189 


river of 


168 


Gadara 


368, 373 


Gaius 


404 


Galatia 


406, 416 


Galilee 


345 


northern and southern 346 


language of . 


347 


sea of 


140, 370 


distant view . 


372 


Gallim 


315 


Gammadim 


257 


Garden of Eden 


20 


Gath 


215, 269 


Gaza 


209 


Geba . 194, 220, 


273, 315 


Gebal . . 


255, 256 


Gebim 


316 


Gedaliah . 


327, 328 


Gehenna . . . 


329 


Gennesaret, land of . 


366 


fountain of 


367 


sea of . 


370 


Gerar . . . 57,60,271 


Gerasa 


368 


Gerizira 


168 


Geshur . . .47, 


186, 240 


Gether 


. 38, 47 


Gethsemane . - . 


386 


Gezer, Gazer 


195 


Ghor, the, described . 


114 


Giah 


235 


Gibbethon 


272 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



483 



Gibbon on the seven churches 433 


Hermon, Mount 


181, 354 


Gibeah . . 220, 


313, 315 


Herod the Great 


164, 349 


Gibeon . 


171, 235 


Agrippa . 


403 


height of 


171 


builds Csesarea 


397 


pool of . 


171 


death of . 


358 


Gihon river 


20 


Herodotus . 


68 


Gihon, Waters of 


243 


Heroopolis 


69 


valley of . 


246 


Heshbon . 


123, 317 


Gideon 


134, 205 


Heth 


39 


Gilboa 


234, 288 


Hezekiah . 


310, 322 


Gilgal . 


163, 165 


Hiddekel, river of . 


19 


Girgasites . 


. 39, 45 


Hiel, curse of . 


164 


Glass, invention of . 


421 


Hippo 


368 


Gob ... 


243 


Hiram, king 


251 


Gog ... 


39, 337 


Historical incidents (See 


Incidents) 


Golan 


196 


Hittites 


45 


Goliath 


215 


Hivite 


. 39, 45 


Gomer , . 


39 


Hobab 


102 


Goshen, land of 


66 


Hor, mount 


119, 128 


city of 


174 


Horeb 


. 84, 100 


Gozan river 


309 


Hormah 


119 


Gulf, Ailanitic . 




113 


Honey of the desert . 


361 


Gur-Baal . 




297 


Horonaim . 


318 


Habakkuk 




310 


Hosea 


310 


Habor 




310 


Hoshea 


308 


Hachilah . 




232 


Hul ... 


. 38, 47 


Hadadezer 




239 


Huleh, Lake 


139 


Hadoram . 




. 38, 46 


Hunin 


179 


Hailstones 




173 


Ibzan 


208 


Haggai 




343 


Iconium . . 


404 


Halah 




310 


Ijon 


179, 272 


Ham 




39 


Incidents, historical 




descendants of 


45 


of Ashdod 


214 


Hamath, entering of. 


116, 298 


Bethel . 


62 


Hamathite, the 


. 39, 45 


Bethlehem 


222 


Hanun 


164 


Caesarea 


397 


Haran 


54, 258 


Esdraelon 


133, 205 


Hareth . . . 


229 


Galilee, sea 


of 373 


Harmony of the Gospels 


351 


Gath . 


215 


Hash any fountain 


135 


Gibeon 


171 


Hasbeiya . 


135 


Gilgal . 


. , 165 


Havilah 


. 39,46 


Hebron 


59 


land of 


18 


Hunin . 


179 


Hazael 


278 


Jericho 


164 


Hazarmaveth . 


38, 4& 


Mahanaim 


64 


Hazeroth . 


106 


Mizpeh 


218 


Hazor . . 175, 


177, 334 


Nazareth 


355 


Heber 


48 


Palestine 


103 


Hebron 


. 58, 192 


Succoth . 


64 


Height of Ararat 


. 27, 34 


Par an . 


103 


Helam 


240 


Patmos 


432 


Helbon 


257 


Shechem 


. ' 168 


Hehopolis . 


330, 337 


Shiloh . 


191 


Hellas 


42 


Tyre . 


253 


Hermon, Little . 


• 


234, 288 


Isaac born . 


55 



484 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Isaac offered in sacrifice 


57 


Jephthah . . , , 


207 


in pastoral life . 


60 


Jerah .... 


38,46 


death of . 


61 


Jeremiah . . , , 


328 


Isaiah 


310 


Jericho, siege of 


163 


prophecies of . 


314 


Jeroboam .... 


268 


Ishbosheth 


64, 241 


Jeroboam II. 


297 


Ishmael 


60 


Jerusalem taken by David 


236 


Ish-tob 


239 


described . 


245-251 


Israelites, departure of 


. 68, 71 


destroyed . 


325 


at the Red Sea 


71 


silence of . 


250 


Mar ah . 


79 


Jeshanah . 


270 


Wilderness of Sin 80 


Jeshua 


340 


Sinai 


101 


Jewish character 


349 


departure from { 


Sinai 102 


Jews under Rome 


350 


inWilderness of Paran 103 


Jezebel 


279 


course from Sinai 104 


Jezreel . 207, 234, 


279, 289 


at Taberah . 


104 


Joab 


223, 235 


Hazeroth . 


105 


Job . . . 


47 


Kadesh-barne 


a 115 


Jobab ... 


. 38, 46 


bitten by serpents 121 


Joel 


310 


in the plains of Moab 126 


John Mark 


403 


on Ebal and Gerizim 168 


John the Baptist, birth of 


358 


idolatry 


200 


in the desert 


361 


under Judges 


201-204 


pubhc ministry . 


364 


Israel, approaching ruin 


307 


continuance of his 




invaded 


308 


ministry 


', 375 


colonized 


308 


imprisonment and death 375 


in captivity . 


309 


John's Gospel . 


351 


Issachar's territory . 


. 188 


Joktan 


. 38, 45 


Jabesh-Gilead . 


220, 235 


Jonah, the prophet . 


302 


Jabin 


175, 205 


Jonathan . 


221, 234 


Jacob at Bethel 


61 


Joppa 


302 


marriage . 


63 


Jordan river 


135, 141 


at Shechem and Hebron 64 


rapids . 


144 


dies 


66 


length 


145 


Jahaz . . 


317 


Joseph .... 


65, 66 


Jair 


207 


Josiah 


323 


Jairus's daughter 


374 


Joshua's conquests . 


173, 175 


James's martyrdom . 


403 


convocation of the 




Japheth 


39 


people 


198 


Jarmuth 


173, 195 


death 


198 


Jattir 


174 


Jothan .... 


314 


Javan . . 


39 


Judah and Israel 


265 


Jazer, sea of 


319, 333 


invasion of 


280 


Jebel Mousa 


96 


during the captivity 


327 


Jebnah 


297 


portion . 


187 


Jebusite 


. 39, 45 


return. 


339, 341 


Jehoahaz . 


323, 326 


Judea .... 


348 


Jehoiakim . 


323 


desert of. 


361 


Jehoram . 


289 


Judges, office of 


201 


Jehoshaphat, king . 


280, 281 


Judgment, scenes of 


385 


and Ahab 


280 


Jupiter and Saturn, con- 




death of . 


281 


junction of . . . 


359 


valley of. 


246, 387 


Juttah . . 174, ] 


L93, 358 


Jehovah, king of Israel 


266 


Kadesh-barnea . 


115 







INDEX 


OF 


SUBJECTS. 


485 


Kady fountain . 


• 


136, 


181 


Macedonia 


407 


Kedar 




258, 


321 


,334 


Machasrus 


369, 375 


Kedesh 


• 




180, 


195 


Machpelah 


58 


Kedron brook 


» 






386 


Madai 


. 39, 41 


Keilah 


1 






229 


Madmena . 


315 


Kerak 








316 


Magdala . 


377 


Keturah 








58 


Magi in search of the 


J King 


Khait, el, Huleh 






139 


of the Jews . 


359 


Khorsabad, excavations 




303 


Magog . . 


39, 40, 337 


Kibroth -hattaavah 


• 


105, 


107 


Mahanaim 


63, 239, 242 


Kings, battle of 


• 




55 


Makkedah 


173 


Kir of Media . 


• 




321 


Malachi 


344 


river . 


• 




306 


Manasseh 


322 


of Moab, Kerak . 




316 


Manasseh's territory 


188, 189 


Kir-havesheth . 






316 


Maon 


174, 229 


Kiriathaim 






333 


Marah, Waters of 


79 


Kirjath-arba 






174 


Mare shah . 


270 


Kirjath-jearim . 






217 


Mark's Gospel . 


352 


Kirioth 






311 


Mary, salutation of 


352 


Kittim 






39 


visits Elizabeth 


I . 358 


Kufa 






336 


Mash 


. 38, 47 


Kunsarin . 






299 


Matthew called 


368 


Lachish 


*173, ' 


270 


322 


Matthew's Gospel 


352 


Laish 


200, 


236, 


315 


Medeba 


239, 317 


Lamartine respectingDame 


ISCU 


s284 


Medes 


396 


Leah 






63 


Media 


321 


Lebanon, cedars of 






258 


Megiddo . . 68, 


181, 290, 323 


Lehabim . 






39 


Waters of 


182 


Leontes river . 






298 


Mehunims 


297 


Leper healed 






368 


Melita, Malta . 


427 


Lesbos 






419 


Memphis . 


319, 331 


Levi's feast 






374 


Menahem 


305 


Levitical cities . 






192 


Mephibosheth . 


239 


Levites, reluctant return tc 


) 




Merom, Waters of 


139 


Judea 


• I 




342 


Meshech . 


257 


Libnah 


194, 


289, 


322 


Mesopotamians 


396 


Libya 


• « 




336 


Messiah expected 


359 


Life shortened . 


• • 




48 


Micah 


310 


Lindsay, Lord, on Damasc 


US 


284 


idolatry of 


200 


Locusts of the desert 




361 


Michal 


236 


Lo -debar . 


• « 




239 


Michmash . 


221, 315 


Lord's Supper 




• 1 




385 


Midianites . 


124, 205 


Lot at Siddim , 




• « 




54 


Migdol 


. 71, 336 


Lud 




• • 


38,46 


Migron 


315 


Ludim 




• i 




39 


Miletus 


419 


Luhith 




• « 




318 


Mingled people . 


328 


Luke and Paul . 




• • 




407 


Minnith . 


257 


Luke's Gospel , 




• t 




352 


Minnoth . 


207 


Lydda 




9 f 




401 


Misgab 


. . 333 


Lydia 




• « 




336 


Mitylene . 


419 


country of 


• • 




396 


Mizpeh 


201, 207, 217 


Lynch's, Lieut., 63 


:peditio 


n 


142 


Moab, plains of. 


126 


Lystra 


• 4 




404 


pictorial scene 


of . 316 


Maachah . 




• • 




239 


land of . 


122, 210 



486 



HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Moabites . 


• 


• 


122 


On .... 


330 


Mohammed respecting Damas 


3- 


Ophel .... 


322 


cus 






284 


Ophir . . . .38, 


263 


Mordecai . 






341 


Ophra .... 


381 


Moriah, Mount. 




^57 


, 246 


Orontes river . . 


298 


Mosera, Mount . 






119 


Osirtasen . . . 


331 


Moses, birth of . 






66 


Othniel .... 


204 


death 






124 


Paintings found near Nineveh 305 


fountain of 






79 


Palestine .... 


127 


Mosque of Omar 






247 


boundaries . 


128 


Mountains of Palestine 




130 


dimensions 


129 


Mousa, Jebei . 






96 


associations of . 


130 


Myra 






426 


mountains of 


131 


Mysia 




396, 


406 


Desert of . 


131 


Naaman healed 






283 


Plain of . 


132 


Nabal 






231 


Palace of Nebuchadnezzar 


335 


Naboth 






279 


Palm-trees, city of . 


164 


Nahor 






48 


Palmyra, palm-trees . 


261 


Nahum 






310 


Pamphylia 


396 


Nain 




354, 


369 


Panias .... 


378 


Naioth 






227 


Panea .... 


349 


Naomi 






210 


Pannag .... 


257 


Naphtuhim 




39, 45 


Parable of the Sow^er 


370 


Naphthali's territory 




188 


Tares 


370 


Nativity, date of 


• • 




358 


Lost Sheep 


382 


Nazareth . 


• 




352 


Prodigal Son 


382 


to Jerusalem 




364 


Unjust Steward 382 


precipice of. 




365 


Labourers . 


383 


Neapolis . 


• 1 




407 


Two sons . 


383 


Nebo, Mount . 


• • 




126 


Wicked Hus- 




city of 


s • 




317 


bandmen 


384 


Neby-Samwil . 


• t 




218 


Paradise, traditions of 


19 


Necho, Pharaoh 


• « 


69, 


313 


Paralytic healed 


368 


Nehemiah 


• 


343, 


344 


Paran, Wilderness of 103, 108 


,118 


Neja, Mount . 


, • 1 




92 


Parchment first made at Per- 




Nethinims 


• 4 




342 


gamos .... 


435 


Nicodemus 


• « 




363 


Parrot, Prof., ascent of Ararat 


26 


Nile, river . 


• « 




66 


Parthians .... 


396 


Nimrim, Waters of 


• 1 




318 


Pass of the Tih 


111 


Nimrod 


• a 




50 


Sufah . 


117 


Nineveh . 


• f 




301 


Michmash . 220, 


315 


prophecies 


agains 




303 


Passage through the Red Sea 


72 


ruins of 


• i 




303 


Patara . . . . 


420 


No, Thebes 


• a 




332 


Pathros .... 


332 


Noah's sons, settlement ol 




47 


Pathrusim . . . . 39, 45 


Nob 




227, 


316 


Patmos .... 


432 


Nobleman's son 






365 


Patumus .... 


68 


Nod, land of 






21 


Paul's conversion 


400 


Noph 




319, 


329 


Paul at Caesarea 


399 


Oak of Scripture 






226 


in Cilicia ... 


40tt 


Obal 




3S 


, 46 


at Antioch . 402, 


403 


ObeUsk, Egyptian 






331 


first missionary tour . 


403 


Og of Bash an . 






123 


second tour 


405 


Olive-trees of Gethsemane 




386 


in Macedonia . 


407 


Omar, Mosque of 


• • 




247 


at Athens . 


410 


Omri 


• • 




273 


Jerusalem 


414 





INDEX 


OF 


SUBJECTS. 487 


PauFs third missionary tour 


416 


Priests and Levites reluctant 


visits Corinth 


417 


to return to Jerusalem . 342 


Macedonia . 


418 


their temple service 352 


returns to Jerusalem 


420 


Priscilla .... 413 


voyage to Rome 


426 


Productiveness of Palestine 


arrival . 


429 


160, 346 


subsequent history 430, 


431 


of the desert 78 


Pekah .... 


307 


Promise to Abraham 53, 55, 70 


Peleg . . 37, 38, 46, 48 


Pul .... 306 


Pella .... 


368 


Quails, Israelites fed by . 80, 105 


Perea .... 


349 


natural phenomena 


Perga .... 


403 


respecting them . 106 


Pergamos . . . 


434 


Quarantania, Mount . . 362 


Perizzites , . . 


163 


Raamah . . . .39, 258 


Peter's conflict with Paul 


414 


Raamses . . . . 68 


Petra, city of . . . 


291 


Rabbah . . . 240, 311 


vv^onderful situation 


292 


Rab-shakeh . . 173, 322 


access to it 


293 


Rachel . . .63, 65, 272 


Petrifying waters at Laodicea 


438 


Rainy season in Palestine 159 


Pharaoh Necho 


68 


Ramah . . 212, 272, 313 


Pharaoh's house 


294 


Rameses .... 69 


Treasury in Petra 


295 


Ramoth-Gilead . . 196, 212 


Pharphar .... 


286 


Rapids in the Jordan . 144 


Philadelphia 


437 


Refuge, cities of . . 197 


Philip at Samaria 


397 


Rehob .... 116 


Philippi . . . 407, 


409 


Rehoboam . . . 265 


Philip's supposed death . 


439 


Rephaim valley . . 236 


Philistines and David 


215 


Rephidim . . . .80,97 


against Saul 


234 


Resurrection of Jesus . 390 


in Rephaim 


236 


Reu .... 48 


Phoenice . . . 401, 


426 


Reuben's territory . . 189 


plain of 




376 


Revenue of the provinces of 


Phrygia 




396 


Herod .... 350 


Phut 


.' 39, 45 


Rezin . . . . 306 


Pibesheth . 




337 


Rhegium .... 428 


Pi-hahiroth 




71 


Rhodes .... 419 


Pillar of Salt . 


154, 


290 


Riblah . . . 128, 326 


Pirathon . 




208 


Rihah .... 164 


Pisgah 




126 


Rimmon, rock . . . 201 


Pisidia 




403 


Riphath . . . . 39, 40 


Pison 




20 


River styled a sea . . 333 


Pithom, Pibeseth 




68 


Roman power in Palestine 350 


Pits, Land of . 




111 


Roman Wall at Antioch . 402 


Plain of Sinai . 




87 


Ruth .... 210 


Pnyx, the, at Athens 


411 


Sabtah .... 39 


Polycarp's dying exclamation 


434 


Sabteca .... 39 


Pompey, death of 


337 


Salah ... 38, 46, 48 


Pontius Pilate . 




350 


Salamis . . . .403 


Pontus 




396 


Salt mountain . . . 290 


Pools of Hebron 




58 


pillar of . . . 291 


at Bethel 




61 


city of . . . 196 


of Bethesda 




368 


valley . . 237, 290 


Population before the deluge 


23 


Salmone . . . 273, 426 


increase of, after 




Samaria . . 273, seq. 347 


the deluge . 


49 


siege of ... 278 


of Judea 


• • 


161 


woman of . 169 



488 



IIISTOmCAL GEOGRAPHY. 



Samaria, first Gentile church 


397 


Shur, Wilderness of . 


79 


Samaritan woman 


363, 


364 


Shush an . 


338 


Samaritans 


• 


308 


Sibmah 


319 


Samaritans and Jews, hostility 


348 


Siddim 


54 


Samos 




419 


Sidon 


39 


Samothrace 




407 


Sidonians . . . 


45 


Samson 




208 


Sihon 


122 


Samuel . . 210, 


217 


-220 


Sihor 


321 


Sanhedrim, power of 




350 


Waters of 


329 


Sarah, death of . 




58 


Silas and Paul . 


406 


Sardis 




436 


Silence of Jerusalem 


250 


Sarepta . . . . 




376 


Sin, city of 


337 


Saron . 




401 


Sin, Wilderness of . 


80 


Saul . . . 


210, 


220 


Sinai, Mount 


100 


death of . 




233 


summit of 


87 


Scenery of Gennesaret 




371 


Sinaitic group . 


77 


Scio 




419 


Sinim 


321 


Scythopohs . . . 




368 


Sinite, the 


. 39, 45 


Sea, the Dead . 




147 


Sion, Mount (>See Zion) 




put for river 




333 


Sisera slain 


205 


of Jazer 




319 


Smyrna 


434 


of the Plain 




297 


Socho 


260, 269 


Seasons in Palestine 




159 


Socoh 


174 


Seba 




39 


Solomon's reign 


244, 264 


Seba'iyeh, Wady 




91 


commissaries 


260 


Sedout, Wady . 




91 


cities 


262 


Seir, Mount 




120 


Sorek, valley . 


209 


Selah, Petra 




291 


Spies to Canaan 


116 


Seleucia . 




403 


Spring in Palestine . 


160 


Seneh 




221 


Springs, hot, of Tiberias 


370 


Senir. 




■255 


Star in the East 


359 


Sennacherib 




322 


of Chinese tables 


360 


Sepharvaim 




310 


Stephen's martyrdom 


399 


Sergius Paulus . 




403 


Stephens, Mr., at the Dead Sea 150 


Sermon on the Mount 




369 


Street called Straight 


287 


Serug 




48 


St. Stephen's Gate . 


386 


Seventy sent out 




380 


Succoth . . 64, 71 


, 75, 207 


Shalim 




64 


Sufah, pass of . 


117 


Shamir 


207, 


209 


Sun standing still 


172 


Sheba . . 38, 39, 


46, 


258 


Sycamore of the Holy Family 331 


Queen of 




264 


Sychar 


166 


Shechem . 


',64., 


166 


Syene 


336 


Sheep -shearing . 




232 


Syke, the, in Petra . 


293 


Sheikh, Mt. Hermon 




181 


Syracuse . 


428 


Sheikh, Wady . 




93 


Syrians defeated 240, 


278, 279 


Sheleph 


', 38, 46 


conquests of . 


290 


Shem .... 


38, 48 


overthrown . 


307 


Shepherds at Bethlehem 




358 


Taanach . 


262 


Sheshach . 




330 


Taberah . 


104 


Shiloh 


190, 


210 


Table land of the desert 


77 


Shimei 




236 


Tabor, Mount . 


354 


Shinar .... 


50, 


337 


Tadmor 


262 


Ships of Tarshish 




42 


Taiyibeh . . . 


381 


Shipwreck of Paul . 




427 


Tahpanhes 


329, 330 


Shishak .... 




270 


Talmai . . . 


240 


Shunem .... 




283 


Tarshish . . , 


. 39,42 



INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 



489 



Tarsus 


• 


400 


Tekoa 


• 


240 


Wilderness of 


240 


, 281 


Tema 


321 


, 330 


Teman 




311 


Temple in Petra 




296 


remains of . 




247 


Temptation, place . 




362 


Tenedos . 




407 


Terah ... 




48 


Terebinth-tree . 




227 


Thapsacus 


261, 


300 


Theatre in Petra 




295 


Thebes 




332 


Thessalonica 




408 


Three Taverns . 




428 


Thyatira . 




435 


Tiberias, Sea of 




370 


city of 




377 


liglath-Pileser . 




306 


Tih mountain . 


.'77, 


109 


pass of 




111 


Timnath . 




208 


Timothy . 




404 


Tiphsah 




261 


Tiras 




39 


Tirza 


*273, 


300 


Tmolus, Mount 




436 


Tob, Land of . 




207 


Togarmah . . : 


.* 39, 40 


Tola . . 




207 


Tomb, demoniac of the 




374 


Tophet 




329 


Topography of Sinai 




89 


Tower of Babel 




50 


at Riblah 




326 


Trachonitis 




349 


Traditions of Paradise 




19 


the flood 




36 


Babel . 




50 


the Canaanites 


200 


Transfiguration of Jesus 


• 


380 


Trade through Galilee 


, 


346 


Treasure cities of Pharaoh 


68 


Tribes, their portion . 




187 


mutual relations 




189 


Troas 




406 


Trogillum . 




419 


Tubal 


.*39, 


257 


Tumuli at Sardis 




436 


Tur, to Mount Sinai 




96 


Tyre described . 


*251 


seq. 


commerce of 




255 


Tyropoeon . 




246 


Ulai river . 




338 


Ur, land of Abraham 




53 



Uriah . . . 240, 311 

Uz ... 38, 47, 330 

Uzal . . . . 38, 46 

Uzdom, salt mountain 154,290 

Uzziah .... 310 

Valley of Salt ... 290 

Vintage in Palestine . 160 

Vow of Paul ... 424 

W^ady Seba'iyeh . . 91 

Sedout ... 91 

Sheikh ... 92 

Lejah ... 93 

Feiran ... 103 

of the Ghor . . 114 

"War between Judah and Israel 271 

Wells at Beer-sheba . 56 

near Suez . . 71 

Wilderness of Arabia . 76, 112 

En-Gedi . 230 

John Baptist 361 

Paran 103,108, 118 

Sin . . 229 

the Temptation 362 

Willows, Brook of . . 318 

Wilson, Rev. Dr., on the passage 

of the Red Sea . . 74 

Wise men in search for Jesus 359 

Witch of Endor . . 233 

Woods of Ephraim . . 64 

Xerxes .... 343 

Zaccheus . . . 164, 383 

Zacharias .... 352 

Zair . . . . 289 

Zalmunna . . . . 207 

Zared, Brook of . . 122 

Zebah .... 207 

Zebulun's territory . . 188 

Zechariah . . . . 343 

Zedekiah . . . 325, 328 

Zelah .... 243 

Zemarite, the . . .39, 45 

Zephaniah .... 310 

Zephath, Hormah . 119, 204 

Zephath, Sarepta . . 276 

Zerubbabel . . . 340 

Zidon, city of . . . 376 

Ziklag . . 233, 234, 271 

Zimri . . . . 330 

Zin, Desert of . . . 116 

Zion, Mount . . 246, 248 

Ziph, Wilderness of . . 229 

Ziz, the cliff ... 280 

Zoan .... 320 

ZoaF .... 318 

Zobah . . 221, 239, 299 

Zorah . . . 208, 270 



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men ; 5th, accurate and discriminating definitions, and, when necessary, with 
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fication, import, rank, and character of each individual word ; 6lh, peculiar 
constructions, modes of speech, idioms, &c. &c. ; 7th, synonymy ; 8lh, the diffi- 
culties of French Grammar presented and resolved in English, as they occur 
throughout the work. 

The American edition contains complete tables of the verbs on an entirely 
new plan, to which the verbs throughout the work are referred, by Professor 
PicoT, with the addition, in their respective places, of a very great number of 
terms in the natural sciences, chemistry, medicine, &c. &c., which are not to be 
found in any other French and English Dictionary, by Judah Dobson, Esq., of 
Philadelphia. 

" It unites the knowledge of the best lexicographers of France and England." 
— Peter S. Duponceau^ President of the American Philosophical Society. 

"The most comprehensive and satisfactory Dictionary of the French and 
English languages combined." — Robley Dunglison, M. JD., Professor in the 
Jefferson Medical College, and Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 

" Indispensably necessary to students desirous of understanding the French of 
the nineteenth century." — F. A. BrSgy, Professor of French and Spanish in the 
Philadelphia High School. 

*' The American editor has enriched it with more than five thousand words 
not in the French copy." — Rev. Isaac Leeser. 

" This Dictionary bears evident marks of superiority to any other that hag 
ever been introduced into this country." — Thomas Sherwin^ A. M., Principal of 
the Boston High School. 

PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO., PHILADELPHIA 



DONNEGAN'S GREEK LEXICON; 

1422 Pages, Eoyal 8vo. Price S4. 

A new Greek and English Lexicon, on the plan of the Greek and German Lex- 
icon of Schneider ; the words alphabetically arranged, — distinguishing such 
as are Poetical, of Dialectic variety, or peculiar to certain Writers and Classes 
of Writers; with Examples, literally translated, selected from the Classical 
Writers. By JAMES DONNEGAN, M.D., of London: Revised and En- 
larged, by ROBERT B. PATTON, Professor of Ancient Languages in the 
College of New Jersey ; with the assistance of J. ADDISON ALEXANDER, 
D. D., of the Theological Seminary at Princeton. 

1X17* The quick sale of so many large editions of this Lexicon^ is the best evi- 
dence the 'publishers could desire of its acceptableness to scholars generally. They 
take pleasure, however, in publishing extracts from a feiv, out of m.any testimoni- 
als, which they have received respecting the merits of this work. 



From C. C. Felton, Professor of Greek 
Literature, Harvard University, Cam- 
bridge, Mass. 

I have, for some time past, been in 
Ihe habit of consulting frequently the 
American edition of Donnegan's 
"Greek and English Lexicon." I 
have no hesitation in saying, that it is 
a most valuable addition to the means 
of acquiring a knowledge of the Greek 
language and literature ; and that it 
deserves to be extensively adopted 
in the schools and colleges of the 
United States. Its claims upon the 
confidence of the public are threefold : 
1st. The admirable Greek and Ger- 
man Lexicon of Schneider, has been 
nsed as a basis by Dr Donnegan. 
Those who are acqiiain'.ed with the 
unrivalled excellence of Schneider, 
will consider this fact no small recom- 
mendation. 2d. The English compiler 
is evidently a thorough scholar ; and 
even in his first edition, produced a 
work far superior to any before pub- 
lished in England, 3d. The American 
editor has long stood among the most 
distinguished men of letters in our 
country ; and is v/ell know-n, in par- 
ticular, for his masterly knowledge of 
Greek. He here gives the work a 
thorough revision ; and, in many re- 
spects, renders it a more useful and 



practical lexicon than it was before. 
It has evidently been prepared with 
scrupulous and laborious fidelity. 

As far as my examination has gone, 
the typographical execution is very 
correct. I doubt not it will speedily 
and generally be adopted ; not only by 
tyros, but by those in mature life, 
who are desirous of renewing or re- 
viving the classical studies of youth. 

With great respect, your obedient 
servant, C. C. Felton. 

Cambridge College. 



From Calvin E. Stowe, Professor at 
Dartmouth College, N. H. 

Since the publication of the second 
edition of Dr. Donnegan's work, I 
have had it on my table for occasional 
reference. It is formed on the basis of 
Schneider, and possesses many of the 
characteristic excellencies of its origi- 
nal. The labours of Professor Patton, 
in preparing the American edition of 
Donnegan, have made it decidedly su- 
perior to the English ; and it is my 
earnest hope thnt the real merits of this 
Lexicon, together with the moderate 
price for v/hich it is now offered, may 
put it into the hands of every Greek 
scholar in the United States. 

Calvin E. Stowb, 

Dartmouth College 



PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO., PHILADELPHIA 



ALKER'S PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY. 

A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary and Expositor of the English Language ; to 
Which is annexed a Key to the Classical Pronunciation of Greek, Latin, and 
Scripture Proper Names, &c. By JOHN WALKER. Octavo— 782 pages. 
Price: — Fine edition, $2.50. Common edition, $1.25. 

In offermg to the public a new edition of Walker's Dictionary, the pub- 
lishers do not feel it to be necessary to say anj'^thing in reference to the merits 
of the work itself. It is believed to be regarded very generally, on both sides- 
of the Atlantic, as the best and most convenient standard of the language, for 
the purpose of immediate reference — as that of Richardson is for the purpose 
of research. All that it seems necessary to say i ^, that the utmost diligence has 
been used to make the edition typographically c )rrect. For this purpose, the 
existing editions, English and American, have been collated, and their mistakes 
carefully corrected. The errors that have been found, in the course of tnls 
collation, are such as almost to stagger belief. These errors appear to have 
been creeping in for the last half century, each edition repeating the mistakes 
of its predecessors, and no general recension of the text being made, until much 
of the value of the work, as a standard of the language, was lost. It has been 
the aim of the publishers, in the present edition, by a careful revision of pre- 
vious ones, and by a diligent use of the other necessary means, to offer a text 
as nearly as possible faultless. 



NUGENT'S FRENCH AND ENGLISH DICTIONARY. 

A Pocket Dictionary of the two Languages. In two parts. 1. French and 
English— 2. English and French. By THOMAS NUGENT, LL. D. 452 
pages square 12mo. Price, 63 cents. 

This work contains, besides the words in general use, an alphabetical list of 
the most usual Christian., Proper., and Geographical Names. The present, 
which is from the last London edition, has all the new words inserted in Moutar- 
dier's and Le Clerc's last edition of the National French Dictionary, and a 
comprehensive view of the pronunciation and syntax of the French language 
By J. OuisEAU, A. M. 



LIBRARY OF ENGJJSH LITERATURE. 

A Selection from the finest passages of the most distinguished English and 
American Authors, classified and arranged under convenient heads. With 
numerous authentic Portraits. 2 very thick vols. 8vo., 2382 pages. Price, $4. 

This work is truly a library in itself. It is especially suited to the wants of 
those who cannot afford to buy many books. They will find in this collection 
an inexhaustible fund of thought and information, suited to all tastes and all 
seasons. It is a collection of the most useful and entertaining portions of the 
works of nearly all the standard authors in the English language. No book of 
extracts probably was ever made with more care. The pieces are selected 
with reference both to excellence of style and correctness of sentiment, and are 
carefully classified under the convenient heads of Religious, Moral, Didactic, 
Historical, Narrative, Descriptive, Pathetic, Rhetorical, Dramatic, Sentimental 
Lyric, Ludicrous, Odes, Sonnets, Riddles, Epigrams, Songs, Ballads, &c. &c. 

PUBLISHED BY E= H. BUTI^R & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 



PARLEY'S COMIVI£N_SCHOOL HISTORY. 

A General History for High Schools, Young Ladies' Seminaries, Academies, 
and Common Schools. With one hundred and fifty Engravings, illustrating 
History and Geography. 309 pages 12rao. Price, 75 cents. 

This work is universally admitted to be the most successful attempt to bring 
general history within the scope of our schools and academies, that has ever 
been made. The importance of having such a work in our seminaries, cannot 
be too highly estimated. Many children have no other means of education than 
those furnished by the public schools. If they do not here obtain the elements of 
universal history, they go through life in ignorance of a most important portion 
of human knowledge. This work is calculated to remove the difficulties which 
have hitherto excluded this study from our schools. It presents universal his- 
tory in a series of interesting and striking scenes, weaving together an outline 
of chronology, illustrated by descriptions which, once impressed on the mind, 
will never leave it. One peculiar advantage of the work is, that history is here 
based upon geography, — a point of the utmost importance. The success of tli© 
work, in actually interesting children in the study of history, has been practi- 
cally tested and demonstrated. Innumerable instances have occurred, in which 
pupils, before averse to history, have become deeply interested in it, preferring 
it to almost any other subject. The lessons are so arranged, that the whole 
study may be completed in a winter's schooling. It is deemed particularly 
desirable that a subject so important should be introduced into all our common 
schools ; and, as calculated to aid in such a purpose, the publishers invite the 
attention of all persons interested in education, to this work. 

''A most interesting and luminous compend of general history, for the 
younger classes of scholars." — Professor Cleveland. 

" Decidedly the best elementary general history I have seen." — M. L. Hurlbut, 

" The best treatise for beginners in history whether juvenile or adult, that I 
have ever seen." — J. J. Hitchcock. 

" One of the best works of its talented and indefatigable author." — Mrs. 
Sigourney. 

Having examined Parley's Common School History, I do not hesitate to say 
that, in my opinion, it is decidedly the best elementary general history I have 
seen, and I recommend its use to other teachers. 

A. B. Cleveland, Female Classical School, Baltimore. 

We concur fully in the recommendation of Mr. Cleveland : 

William Hamilton, Female Seminary. 

H. CoLBURN, Baltitnore College. 

John Haevie, Principal of Ladies^ Seminary, Paca street. 

Robert O'Neill, Eng. ^ Math. Academy, corner of Paca and Franklin streets. 

S. B. RiTTENHOUSE, Principal of Paca Street Institute. 

E. Rhodes Harney, Female Classical Seminary. 

H. Winchester, Female Seminary, Gay street. 

R. M'Laughlin, Baltimore city. 

James F. Gould, Principal of B. F. Lyceum. 

James Harshaw, Classical and English Academy, No. 103 Hanover street. 

Samuel Smith, Wilmington, Delaware, October 10, 1838. 

S. M. Gayley, Wilmington Classical Institute. 

S. Prettyivla-N, Principal of W. F. Seminary, 

P. S. Johnson, Academy. 

Caleb Kimber, Wilmington Select Seminary. 

PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 



ANGELL'S READING BOOKS. 



This is a series of Spelling and Reading Books, in Six Numbers ; compiled bff 
OLIVER ANGrELL, A. M., Principal of the Franklin High School, Providena 
The numbers composing the series may be briefiy described as follows : 

AngelVs Reader, No. 1 — 72 pages 12mo. Price, 8 cents. 

The arrangement of the lessons in this book is such, that the child commences 
reading as soon as he commences putting the letters together into syllables, the 
exercise of spelling and reading being simultaneous. The same syllables and 
words which form the Spelling Lessons, are arranged as Reading Lessona 
directly opposite, or immediately under the spelling columns. 

AngelPs Reader, No, 2 — 136 pages 12mo. Price, 14 cents. 

This is a continuation of the first number, containing Easy Reading Lessons, 
most of which are pleasing stories, designed to interest the mind of the learner, 
and afford instruction. Spelling Lessons, consisting of words from the Reading 
Lessons, precede every Reading Lesson. 

Angell's Reader, No. 3 — 206 pages 12mo, Price, 17 cents. 

This is a gradual advance from the second number, having the reading and 
Spelling Lessons arranged on the same plan. The Lessons, in each of the num- 
bers, are followed by a set of Questions, to exercise the reader on what he has 
read. 

AngelPs Reader, No. 4 — 252 pages 12mo. Price, 30 cents. 

Algo designed as a Reading and Spelling Book, and containing a variety of 
other useful matter. 

AngelPs Reader, No. 5 — 296 pages 12mo. Price, 50 cents. 

A Reading Book for the higher classes in Common Schools, with Spelling 
lessons and Definitions adapted to each reading section; with Tables, Menial 
Arithmetic, &c. 

Angell's Reader, No. 6 — 504 pages 12mo. Price, 75 cents. 

Being a selection of pieces in prose and verse ; designed as a Reading Book 
for the highest classes in Academies and Schools. 

These six volumes, compiled by Oliver Angell, comprise a series 
which is undoubtedly more suitable for the purpose for which they are 
designed, than any previous publications; and they are more popular among 
those who have the direction of education than any ever prepared in this 
coui try. There is a decided advantage in possessing sets of elementary books 
by the same author, who has pursued a similar plan with each, rising step by 
step, and who, it is presumed, would be better able to preserve the proper gra- 
dation of style and matter, than several individuals would. This will be found 
to be the case in the present series. No matter that appears in one, is inserted 
in either of the others ; so that the six compilations may be used in different 
classes in the same school. 

PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 



BUTLER'S QUARTO BIBLE. 

A new and splendid edition of the Holy Bible, In large quarto, suited to be used 
in Churches and Families. This Bible is in larger sized type than any other 
•printed in the United States. It contains, also, the Apocrypha and a Family 
Record, is embellished with a large number of fine Engravings, coloured and 
plain, and is bound in a great variety of styles. The prices vary according to 
the kind of binding and embellishment. They are as follows :— $5, ^6.50, S7, 
$8, $10, $15, $16, $20, $22, and $25. 



COLEMAN'S HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 



Historical Geography of the Bible ; 1 vol. duodecimo, of nearly 500 pages. By 
Rev. LYMAN COLEMAN, D. D. Illustrated with new and beautiful Maps 
of various Countries mentioned in the Scriptures. 

By this work the reader is assisted to study in connexion, the History and 
Geography of the Bible ; both of which are, by this means, made more interest- 
ing and instructive. This is indeed the only way to interest the young in the 
study of Sacred Geography. It is a book for Sunday Schools, Bible Classes, 
High Schools, Academies, and Colleges, is well as for parents and instructors, 
and all who would read with intelligent interest the Sacred Scriptures. 



MACAULAY'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

FINE LIBRARY EDITION, LARGE TYPE. 



The History of England, from the Accession of James II. By THOMAS 
BABINGTON MACAULAY. With a portrait. Fine muslin binding— Price, 
One Dollar a volume. 

In presenting this edition of Macaulay's England to the public, the publishers 
beg to remark that the utmost care has been taken to give an accurate reprint 
of the edition of Messrs. Longman & Co., of London, printed under the super- 
vision of Mr. Macaulay himself. 



CHEAP EDITION OF 

MACAULAY'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 



Containing all the matter of volumes 1 and 2, of the London edition, with a 
portrait ; printed on new brevier type. Price, for the 1st and 2d volumes 
bound in one, fine muslin, 75 cents. Half muslin, 62^ cents. 

PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 



LEAFLETS OF MEMORY. 

The Leaflets of Memory : an Illuminated Annual, containing numerous Illnmi- 
nations, Engravings and other Embellishments in the highest style of art. 
Edited by REYNELL COATES, M. D. 306 pages royal 8vo. Price, $5. 



CHRISTINAS BLOSSOMS. 

Christmas Blossoms and New Year's Wreath, a Juvenile Annual. 166 pages 
square ]2mo. Six highly-finished Engravings. Price, $1.50. 



FRIEMOSHIP'S OFFERING. 

Friendship's Offering ; a Christmas, New Year, and Birth-day Present. 316 
pages 12mo. Nine fine Engravings. Price, S2.25. 



BEAD'S FEMALE POETS OF Af^ERICA. 



The Female Poets of America, with portraits and biographical notices, by 
THOMAS BUCHANAN READ. New edition with large additions. Embel- 
lished with portraits of *' 

MPvS. E. Oakes Smith, Mes. S. J. Hale, 

Mrs. Frances S. Osgood, Miss Anne C. Lynch, 

Mrs. L. H. Sigournet, Mrs. Ajmelia B. Welby, 

Mrs. Emma C. Embury, Mrs. E. C. Kinney, 

Mrs. E. F. Ellet, Miss Sara J. Clark, 

and three magnificent Illuminations drawn by Devereux. Elegantly bound. 

^' This is a volume of 420 pages ; and one of the most beautiful books in its 
typography, its binding, and the literary character of its contents, ever pub- 
lished in this country. 

" It gives the portraits and biographies of the Female Poets of America, with 
specimens of their writings. The portraits are exquisite pictures, and, as far 
as we can judge from having seen the originals, they are for the most part 
excellent likenesses. We have examined them with the deepest interest. 

" The literary selections are made by one who is himself a poet, and form an 
admirable specimen of the high powers of the many poetesses of our country." 
—George D. Prentice, Editor of the Louisville Journal. 



The above Annuals and Gift-Books are printed in the finest manner, on 
snow-white paper, and eml;ellished with splendid Engravings by the' most 
celebrated artists, and are bound in the most elegant style. The literary 
contents are by the first writers in America and Europe. The editors have 
been long known as gentlemen of taste and literary ability. 

FOR BALE BY E. H. BUTLER & CO , PHILADELPHIA. 



COATES'S SCHO£l^ PHYSIOLOGY. 

First Lines of Pliysiology: being an Introduction to the Science of Life, 
written in Popular Language; designed for the use of Common Schools, 
Academies, and General Readers. By REYNELL COATES, M.D., Author 
of First Lines of Natural Philosophy. Sixth edition, revised; with an 
Appendix. 340 pages 12mo. Price, $1.00. 

This work is designed exjpresshj for the use of schools, and has been carefully 
adapted to the capacities of children, while the matter and style are such as to 
render it at once attractive and instructive to youth who are advancing towards 
the conclusion of their studies, even in seminaries of the highest class. 

Technical terms are avoided, aa much as possible ; and those which are neces- 
sarily employed, are fully explained in an accurate and simple manner. No 
term is given until the student is impressed with the want of a word, to express 
an idea already received; so that the memory is not fatigued, at the very com- 
mencement of the study, with a long list of words, and abstract definitions, 
which he has no means of fixing in his mind by association. 

A text-book on Physiology has been anxiously sought for by the leading 
teachers and professors of our country ; but it has been supposed that, desirable 
as .such knowledge must be for those who are charged with the care of the 
young, there is something in the nature of the study, rendering it unfit for intro- 
duction into seminaries for young ladies. The error of this opinion is most 
clearly shown in the work now offered to the public. It contains not a word 
that can be regarded as objectionable by the most fastidious delicacy. 



COATES'S NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 

First Lines of Natural Philosophy, divested of mathematical formulae : being a 
practical and lucid Introduction to the study of the Science ; designed for the 
use of Schools and Academies, and for readers generally, who have not been 
trained to the study of the exact sciences, and for those who wish to enter 
understandingly upon the study of the mixed sciences. By REYNELL 
COATES, M. D., Author of Physiology for Schools. Illustrated by 264 cuts. 
402 pages 12mo. Price, 75 cents. 

Unlike most works designed for a similar purpose, this volume lis not a com- 
pilation merely. The author has evidently considered the capacities and tastes 
of his audience, matured his plan, and mastered all the necessary relations of 
his theme before putting pen to paper ; then, with the whole subject before 
him, and considering his pupil as utterly ignorant of the first principles of 
nature, he begins as though addressing the extremely young; and, throughout 
the entire work, he nowhere oversteps the ability of the pupil. Not a technical 
term is used unless fully and clearly explained, and no previous mathematical 
knowledge is demanded of the student ; although the reader is drawn, b}'' light 
and easy, but logical and orderly stages, from the consideration of the simplest 
accidents of every-day life, to the comprehension of some of the grandest phe- 
nomena connected with astronomy. 

It is one of the peculiarities of this writer, that whatever he attempts to 
teach, he teaches thoroughly ; and while the appendix of well-digested ques- 
tions and references, greatly increases the value of the work to the practical 
preceptor of children acquiring the rudiments of education, its text will render 
It scarcely less valuable to the youth about commencing the study of the exact 
jciences, the man of liberal information, and even the professional teacher. 

PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO. PHILADELPHIA. 



KENDALL'S URANOGRAPHY. 



IJranography, or a Description of the Starry Heavens : designed for the use of 
Schools and Academies ; accompanied by an Atlas of the Heavens, showing 
the places of the prmcipal Stars, Clusters, and Nebulae. By E. OTIS KEN- 
DALL, Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy m the Central High School 
of Philadelphia, and Member of the American Philosophical Society. The 
Uranography contains 365 pages 12mo., with nine fine Engravings. The 
Atlas is in 4to., and contains eighteen large Maps. Price of the Uranography 
and Atlas, $1.25. 

A GREAT obstacle to the study of Uranography heretofore has been the diffi- 
culty of transferring to the heavens themselves, the ideas acquired in studying 
the maps. There was so much in the map that was not in the heavens, that it 
was extremely difficult for a beginner to conceive the one to be in any respect 
the representative of the other. A celestial map or globe, crowded with highly- 
colored pictures of birds, and beasts, and four-footed animals, and creeping 
things, might well look, to the eye of the uninitiated, more like the shov/-bill of 
a menagerie than a picture of the starry heavens. In the present work, how- 
ever, while a faint outline of the old constellations is preserved for the sake of 
their historical associations, prominence is given in the maps to that which is 
prominent in the heavens, viz., to the stars themselves. 

This feature of the work is made yet more striking by the introduction of 
another, of a character altogether novel. Not only are the objects which are 
not seen in the heavens, excluded from the maps, but the heavens themselves 
are represented more nearly in their true color. Instead of making, as hereto- 
fore, the stars black and the sky white, the groundwork of the map is here the 
deep blue of heavenly space, while the stars are a brilliant, spotless white. Such 
a representation of the subject seems to be the 0)ie least likely to confuse the 
mind of the student, when, from a contemplation of his Celestial Atlas, he turns 
to contemplate the august scene which it represents. 

" This work, with its eighteen maps, is abundant, in the hands of a competent 
teacher, to create pure pleasures which shall be renewed and deepened through 
life."— Ee-y. J. Todd, D.D. 

"A capital work for schools and academies." — Richmond Enquirer. 

"No text-book on the subject has ever been published at all equal to this of 
Professor Kendall's." — Watchman of the South. 

*' The author has brought to the work a strong loye for, which has led to a 
deep knowledge of, the science of which he treats ; and his position as a 
teacher enables him to set forth his in.struction in an available form." — United 
States Gazette. 

" We commend this work with warmth and confidence." — Philada. Inquirer. 

" It appears to us that this work supplies a desideratum with the schools, ana 
•will much facilitate the study of the 'wonders of the heavens.'" — Richmond 
Compiler. 

" We know of no work of the same nature equal to this in comprehensiveness 
and arrangement." — North American. 

PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 



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